Priyanka Gandhi lauds Rahul’s public announcement of resignation, says few have courage to do so

Samikhsya Bureau

Congress leader and AICC general secretary in-charge for Uttar Pradesh (East) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday lauded brother Rahul Gandhi ‘s announcement of his resignation as Congress president through a public letter to party workers.

Vadra said few have the courage that Gandhi had shown and she fully respects his decision. “Few have the courage that you do Rahul Gandhi. Deepest respect for your decision,” she tweeted.

On Wednesday, ending speculations over his decision to discontinue as Congress chief, Rahul Gandhi said he was no longer the party president and asked the Congress Working Committee (CWC) to chose a new president at the earliest. “I have already submitted my resignation and I am no longer the party president. Congress Working Committee should convene a meeting at the earliest. Party should decide on the new president quickly without further delay, I am nowhere in this process,” he said while talking to reporters at Parliament.

His statement followed the request by several senior party leaders, including chief minister’s of Congress ruled to continue as Congress president.

Rahul Gandhi also explained his position in a public letter released to the Congress workers.

He also released a four-page public letter to party workers, Gandhi on Wednesday announced that he had quit as party president taking responsibility for the party’s loss in the Lok Sabha elections. “It is an honour for me to serve the Congress Party, whose values and ideals have served as the lifeblood of our beautiful nation. I owe the countrymen and my organisation a debt of tremendous gratitude and love. As president of the Congress Party, I am responsible for the loss of the 2019 election. Accountability is critical for for the future growth of our party. It is for this reason that I have resigned as Congress president,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi added that rebuilding the Congress party required hard decision and numerous people had to be made accountable for the failure of the party in 2019 election. So it would be unfair on his part to hold others responsible for the failure but ignore his own responsibility as the party president, he reasoned.

On May 25, Rahul Gandhi had first offered his resignation at the CWC meeting, taking full responsibility of the party’s debacle in the Lok Sabha polls. He refused to reconsider his decision despite repeated requests from senior leaders. More than 200 party workers, including AICC leaders, also resigned from their party position in solidarity with him.