Rajasthan Cong urges Rahul to take over as party president
:The Rajasthan Congress unanimously adopted a resolution on Tuesday urging vicepresident Rahul Gandhi to take over as party chief ahead of twostate elections scheduled for later this year.
In a meeting held at the state party office in Jaipur, the members passed the resolution. Another resolution empowering party president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul to elect the Rajasthan unit chief was also passed.
“Across the country, party workers want Rahul Gandhi to lead the party. Under the leadership of Gandhi, our party as a strong opposition is fighting with the untamed BJP government and raising peoples’ voice,” Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot said.
The proposal for elevation of Gandhi as party chief was moved by Pilot, seconded by party general secretary Mohan Prakash.
Pilot said Gandhi was appointed as party vice-president at a Chintan Shivir held in Jaipur in 2013 and that all Congressmen wished that the 47-year-old leader should take over as party president. The state goes to the polls next year.
“The way the Congress party is working in Rajasthan, it is certain that our government will form in assembly elections,” said Keval Singh Dhillon, in-charge for organisational polls in Rajasthan.
The move comes as Gandhi is leading the party’s campaign in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, where elections are scheduled for later this year.
The Congress leader has hit out at the BJP government over issues of jobs and economic growth, which slowed down last quarter to its lowest rate in three years.
The meeting comes days after a four-day statewide march led by Pilot that focused on farmers issues and demanded a complete loan waiver. His Kisan Nyay Padyatra was aimed at rejuvenating the Congress and focus on farmers’ issues in a state where agricultural distress has deepened this year with several protests.
“The government will have to waive off entire farm loans instead of mere waiver of loans worth only ₹50,000. Otherwise, the Congress will continue its fight against the government,” Pilot had told a thousands-strong crowd last Friday.