Resignation drama drags on: Rahul Gandhi repeats desire to quit as Congress chief, Top party leaders urge him to continue

Amid revolts within Congress, Rahul Gandhi has yet again said that he does not want to be the party Chief, during the Parliamentary Party meeting chaired by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on Wednesday. 

While he remained adamant on his decision to quit from his post, Congress MPs urged him to as Party Chief, saying that he is the "only option", sources said. Congress lawmakers also said that loss in the Lok Sabha polls is a collective responsibility and that party needs Gandhi at the crucial moment, sources added. They went on to convince Rahul Gandhi that the Lok Sabha poll drubbing was not his fault.

Ever since the humiliating defeat to the BJP in May 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has been determined to quit from his post, taking responsibility for the defeat of the party. 

However, despite Rahul Gandhi's repeated statements that he would step down as party chief, he has not yet stepped down from the post of the party chief. He had previously said that the party leaders and not him, will select the next party chief. However, there is no clarity on Rahul Gandhi's position as he continues to serve as the chief of the party. 

Earlier on June 18, Sonia Gandhi chaired a strategic meeting of the Congress leaders to discuss and finalize the approach of the party in the upcoming budget session in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Even then, rumours of Gandhi stepping down made rounds but nothing was mentioned about the matter. 

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CWC and many Congress-backers including RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy and other state Congress heads have rejected Gandhi's resignation. However, a few Congress leaders including senior party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar have said that the party can have a 'Non-Gandhi' chief provided the Nehru-Gandhis remain active in the party and can help resolve a crisis in case serious differences arise.

Meanwhile, the role played by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is also unclear, despite winning only a single seat in Uttar Pradesh - there have been demands from UP Congress leaders for the appointment of the UP General Secretary as the Congress face in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections.

READ | Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi To Meet Delhi, Haryana And Maharashtra Congress Chiefs To Discuss Strategy For Upcoming Assembly Polls: Sources