Rahul Gandhi era begins in Congress after taking charge as Party President

New Delhi, December 16: Rahul Gandhi has officially taken over as the President of the Indian National Congress at the AICC HQ in New Delhi. Outgoing chief Sonia Gandhi today signed the certificate and handed it over to her successor Rahul.

Sonia Gandhi addressing party workers following Rahul Gandhi's elevation as the Congress president said, "My beloved Congress workers. Today, I address you for the last time as Congress chief. We now have a hope of new leadership." The outgoing chief added Congress fights for the soul of India and for its fundamental values which are being attacked on a daily basis.

Rahul Gandhi, who was elevated as the vice president of the party since January 2013, was tipped to succeed Sonia Gandhi for some time now. Sonia Gandhi is now expected to continue to head the Congress Parliamentary Party.

Meanwhile, the change of guard is of utmost significance, given the fact that the grand old party secured a tally of just 44 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha general elections. Reduced to just 44 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, which were largely fought under the campaign design of Rahul Gandhi, the Congress has since lost string of state assembly polls, some of them its strongholds for decade, to the BJP.

Former Party President Sonia Gandhi took over the mantle of Congress president in 1998. She leaves office as the longest running president of India’s grand old party. Under her tenure, the Congress party, which was facing terminal decline in mid 90’s post the rise of BJP, revived itself winning several state assembly polls and back to back Lok Sabha polls in 2004 and 2009.