Robert Vadra extends wishes to mother-in-law Sonia Gandhi, says 'her understanding of politics will help Congress'

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra on Sunday wished her "very best" for her elevation as party's interim president, saying that the leader's deep political understanding will help the party in "a large way".

"Sonia ji is back at the helm as the new Congress president. I wish her the very best. She is a great leader with an indomitable spirit. Her experience and understanding of politics will help the Congress party in a large way. I, as the family member, will always be in support of her," the businessman wrote on Twitter.

After months of uncertainty and drama that followed after Rahul Gandhi's decision to hand in his resignation as the president of the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi was appointed as the interim Congress chief by the Congress Working Committee (CWC) the party's top decision-making body, despite claims that another 'Gandhi' will not replace the seat vacated by the Gandhi scion. 

READ| Sonia Gandhi Appointed Interim Congress President, CWC Meeting Inconclusive

She has been the longest-serving Congress president and will succeed her son Rahul Gandhi after a gap of two years.

AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal during a media briefing said that the CWC unanimously wanted to Rahul Gandhi to work as the party's chief but since he declined they requested Sonia Gandhi to take over until the new president was elected. He added that Sonia Gandhi agreed to the proposal, thereby becoming the interim Congress president.

"Congress Working Committee unanimously resolved that Rahul Gandhi should continue as Congress president and requested him to accept this decision, however, he declined to withdraw his resignation. CWC unanimously resolved to request Sonia Gandhi to take over as the Interim President, pending the election of a regular president by the AICC," he said.

Sources to Republic had said that reports of all the five committees were supposed to be submitted and taken up for consideration by CWC. Sources had said committees proposed the name of Rahul Gandhi once again. Even the committee in which Priyanka was there has proposed Rahul Gandhi's name. The party's top decision-making body had reconvened at 8 pm to discuss reports of five groups, formed earlier in the day, to scrutinise names of potential successor to Rahul Gandhi, but failed to come to a final decision.

Rahul Gandhi had resigned taking the moral responsibility of the party's Lok Sabha defeat in early June. Despite repeated persuasion by several senior leaders and mass resignation against his decision, Rahul did not budge.

Congress suffered a massive drubbing in the polls winning only 52 seats. Several key faces of the party including Rahul Gandhi could not secure a win for the party.

(With ANI inputs)