Rahul Gandhi elected Cong Prez

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi, who is putting up a spirited campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat, was on Monday elected the President of the Congress, taking over from his mother who had helmed the country’s oldest party for 19 long years.

The 47-year-old Rahul will formally take over the reins of the grand old party on December 16, two days before the counting of votes for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections, the outcome of which could be a trendsetter ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

Congress leader Mullappally Ramachandran told the media that a total of 89 nomination papers proposing the name of Rahul Gandhi for Congress President were received. All the nomination papers were found valid.

“Since the withdrawal date and time is over and as there is only one candidate, as per Article XVIII(D) of the Constitution of Indian National Congress, I at this moment declare Rahul Gandhi elected as President of the Indian National Congress,” he said.

Marking a generational shift, Rahul Gandhi will be the sixth Nehru-gandhi scion to helm the party, taking over from his mother Sonia Gandhi who steered it through an era during which it was in power from 2004 to 2014.

“This is a historic occasion. The handing over of the certificate of election is scheduled to be held on December 16,” Ramachandran said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Rahul Gandhi on his elevation as Congress president.

“I congratulate Rahul Ji on his election as Congress President. My best wishes for a fruitful tenure,” PM Modi tweeted.