Rahul's Resignation Still Under Consideration, CWC To Take Decision In Evening: Surjewala

Senior Congress leader and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also ruled himself out of the race for party chief.

(File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s resignation as Congress chief is still under consideration and the Congress Working Committee (CWC) will take a decision on the matter in the evening on Saturday, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said after the crucial meeting of the CWC came to an end in the afternoon. Surjewala briefed reporters that the CWC argued Rahul is best person to lead Congress when government attacking institutions, but he refused saying he will fight with workers. The meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), to elect the new party chief, ended on Saturday afternoon. Coming out of the meeting, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi told reporters she and Rahul Gandhi are not a part of the five regionwise groups formed in the CWC to elect the new party chief. "Rahul and I cannot participate in the election of the new party chief. Putting our names is not good," she told reporters. Outgoing Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said: "I am going to Wayanad tomorrow for two days as the condition is very disturbing there." Senior Congress leader and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also ruled himself out of the race for party chief. Speaking to reporters after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting here, he said: "I am not among those leaders who push their names for the party president's post. My opinion in this matter is known to all." The CWC will meet in the evening again for another round of consultation on the election of the new Congress president, Gehlot said. The meeting to elect the new chief began at 11 a.m. It was attended by Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and senior party leaders Anand Sharma, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot, Ahmed Patel, P. Chidambaram and others. The CWC has been divided into five region-wise groups to hold talks with the state in-charges, state chiefs, AICC department chairman, party MPs and build a consensus on the name of the new party chief. The name will be finalised on Sunday, after all the five groups have submitted their recommendations, said a senior party leader.