Voices Within Congress Grow Stronger For Priyanka Gandhi To Take Over As Party President

Former Union Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal has also extended support for Priyanka Gandhi’s leadership. He said this is the right time for Priyanka Gandhi to lead the party.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Photo: Twitter

New Delhi: Voices within the Congress party which is facing a leadership crisis after Rahul Gandhi’s resignation from the post of party president, are growing in favour of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to take the charge of the party. Former MP Abhijit Mukherjee, son of former president Pranab Mukherjee, made an open plea in favour of Priyanka, stating she should not ignore the clarion call of lakhs of Congress workers from across the country. Former Union Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal has extended support for Priyanka Gandhi’s leadership. He said this is the right time for Priyanka Gandhi to lead the party. "She should command the party at this critical times. She is capable and can lead the party," the Congress leader from Uttar Pradesh said. Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Anil Shastri took to Twitter and said Priyanka Gandhi is the best person to lead the party. "Now that Rahul Gandhi is firm on his resignation as Congress President, it's the question of party's existence. And, if the party has to survive we have to have a President at the earliest. There can't be a better person to lead the Congress than Priyanka Gandhi and let the AICC elect her,” he tweeted.

Now that RG is firm on his resignation as Congress President, it's the question of party's existence. And, if the party has to survive we have to have a President at the earliest. There can't be a better person to lead the Congress than Priyanka Gandhi & let the AICC elect her.

— Anil K Shastri (@anilkshastri) July 17, 2019

The Congress is yet to decide on its new president after Rahul Gandhi made his resignation public. He had submitted his resignation to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on May 25 after which several senior and middle-rank Congress leaders also stepped down from their posts. This triggered a spate of resignations within the party with office-bearers at various levels stepping down from their posts. Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that the party should find a new president other than anyone from the Gandhi family. However, with voices growing stronger, the onus of leading the party is gradually shifting to Priyanka. Congress leader from Odisha Bhakt Charan Das said a large number of party workers are demanding that she should take over after Rahul Gandhi has decided to resign. Senior Congressmen say Rahul Gandhi is still the Congress president as the CWC is yet to accept his resignation. Though Rahul is pressing that he is no longer the Congress chief, the CWC has rejected his resignation and asked him to restructure the party at all levels. (With inputs from PTI)