Published 13:50 IST, May 29th 2019
Rahul Gandhi's resignation drama continues: Now, Sheila Dikshit to lead 'Rahul please don't resign as Congress president' demonstration
Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit reiterating her stand on Rahul Gandhi's party presidency stated that they (Congress) will 'plead' him to take his decision back.
Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit reiterating her stand on Rahul Gandhi's party presidency stated that they (Congress) will 'plead' him to take his decision back.
The former chief minister of Delhi said that the party will suffer a 'heavy loss' and that the party will persuade Rahul Gandhi by demonstrating near his residence.
"We are going there to plead with him to not do this. In the CWC meeting, we have said very clearly that none of us will accept his resignation. To convince him or to replace him is our responsibility. We won't listen to his decision and won't even search for any replacement," she added.
On Tuesday, staunchly backing the Gandhi scion's leadership, Dikshit had stated the party would neither accept his resignation nor would they find a replacement for the current Congress president.
"We are going to be near the residence of Rahul Gandhi, will demonstrate there to convey our feelings that he should not resign. The Party will suffer a very heavy loss which we don't want," she said.
Adding that wins and losses in the election are a norm, Dikshit added that under Gandhi's leadership the Congress had only strengthened.
"Under his leadership, Congress has only bettered, not weakened. Yes, there will be wins and losses and have always been. Even in Indira Gandhi's era, we experienced loss and then won in a major way. We cannot be sacred by these losses. His (Rahul Gandhi's) leadership is very precious for us. We will not let him leave," she added.
Meanwhile, in a big development amid turmoil within the Congress party following the 2019 Lok Sabha election results, as per inputs, Rahul Gandhi is insistent on his decision to step down as Congress party president. At the previous CWC meeting, his resignation offer was rejected as the party instead allegedly unanimously asked him to remain and guide them, and even bestowed upon him full authority to overhaul the party.
Many leaders such as DMK Cheif M K Stalin, RJD Chief Lalu Yadav, Superstar Rajinikanth too had urged Gandhi to stay as the Congress Chief.
Since the May 23 results in which the Congress managed to win just 52 seats - six more than its lowest-ever Lok Sabha polls tally in 2014 - the resignations have come in thick and fast, and from all over the country. Congress chiefs of Madhya Pradesh (M.P CM Kamal Nath), Uttar Pradesh (Raj Babbar), Odisha (Niranjan Patnaik), Assam (Ripun Bora), Jharkhand (Dr Ajoy Kumar), Punjab (Sunil Jhakar, on account of his own loss to BJP's Sunny Deol in Gurdaspur) are among the many names that have resigned.
Updated 14:10 IST, May 29th 2019