National News
Congress plays down Sonia Gandhi’s retirement remark
A day before Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi formally takes over the reins, Congress has clarified that Sonia Gandhi has only resigned from the party post and not from politics.
Congress’ clarification was prompted by Ms. Gandhi’s comments to reporters in Parliament on Friday morning that her “role now was to retire.”
Post Mr. Gandhi’s elevation as the next Congress president, there has been intense speculation as to what role will Ms. Gandhi assign herself.
As the party president, Ms. Gandhi also heads the Congress Parliamentary Party that decides the party agenda in Parliament. Party sources had earlier told The Hindu that she had expressed her desire to step down and get into retirement mode.
However, the party is likely to create a post of patron for Ms. Gandhi, who has served as the longest serving president of the Congress party with 19 years in office.
As the media reported about Ms. Gandhi’s comments, chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted, “Would sincerely request friends in the media to not rely upon innuendos. Smt. Sonia Gandhi has retired as President of Indian National Congress and not from politics. Her blessings, wisdom and innate commitment to Congress ideology shall always be our guiding light.”
On December 11, Mr. Gandhi was elected as the new Congress president in a contest that didn’t have any other contender. However, the certificate of victory is yet to be formally handed over to him as he was stationed in Gujarat for the last phase of campaigning.
A formal function will take place on Saturday at the party headquarters where Ms. Gandhi is expected to speak about the challenges and the road ahead for the party as her son takes over her role.
