Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy meets Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, urges him to stay as party chief

On the day of Prime Minister-elect Modi's swearing-in ceremony, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has met with Congress president Rahul Gandhi in his Delhi Residence on Thursday morning.

Joining a host of leaders like DMK Chief M K Stalin, Sheila Dikshit, Tarun Gogoi, Siddaramaiah and many others, the JD(S) leader too has urged Rahul Gandhi to stay as the Congress president.

"I have requested Rahul Gandhi not to step down from his post," he said to reporters.

In the meeting which lasted for 20 minutes, Kumaraswamy spoke about the recent political developments in Karnataka with Gandhi. He also confirmed his attendance at PM-elect Modi's swearing-in ceremony on Thursday which will be held in the foreground of the Rashtrapati Bhawan at 7 PM with President Ram Nath Kovind presiding over the ceremony.

Amidst speculation whether Rahul Gandhi will continue as Congress chief, former Assam Chief Minister and Congress leader, Tarun Gogoi has said earlier today, that party president Rahul Gandhi is sticking to his decision to resign from the post.

"We want Rahul to continue as Congress president. But he is insisting that he will not continue as party president anymore," Gogoi told ANI adding "In a democracy, a strong opposition is needed. Who will become a strong opposition? There is only one party -Congress and Rahul has the capability to lead the party with his pan-India image."

'Rahul Gandhi Campaigned Tirelessly, Time For State Leaders To Introspect': Maharashtra Congress Pulls Out All The Stops In Letter Appeal To Party President

Many Congress state chiefs and leaders have urged Gandhi to remain as Congress president, with Maharashtra Congress making an appeal to Congress president Rahul Gandhi withdraw his resignation from his post, at the same time taking responsibility for the 'disappointing and shocking' Lok Sabha 2019 election results. 

The letter noted that Rahul Gandhi campaigned across the length and breadth of the country and that it is time for the state leaders to "introspect and take responsibility" for the result. 

Yashwant Sinha Tells Rahul Gandhi To Go, Says 'if He does Not Stand Firm Regarding His Resignation, He Will Lose Public Estimation'

Meanwhile, former union minister Yashwant Sinha has said that if Rahul Gandhi does not stand firm regarding his resignation, he will lose public estimation. 

The entire resignation saga started when Rahul Gandhi tendered his resignation after the Congress suffered a massive defeat in Lok Sabha elections managing to gather just  52 seats in the recent general elections, which is just eight more than 2014 while BJP alone won 303 seats - its highest tally ever.