The 47-year-old Gandhi will formally take over the reins of the grand old party on December 16, two days before counting of votes for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections, the outcome of which could be a trendsetter ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
Congress leader Mullappally Ramachandran told reporters that a total of 89 nomination papers proposing the name of Gandhi for Congress president were received.
All the nomination papers were found valid.
“Since the withdrawal date and time is over and as there is only one candidate, as per Article XVIII(d) of the constitution of Indian National Congress, I hereby declare Rahul Gandhi elected as president of the Indian National Congress,” he said.
Marking a generational shift, Gandhi will be the sixth Nehru-Gandhi scion to head the party, taking over from his mother Sonia Gandhi who steered it through an era during which it was in power from 2004 to 2014.
“This is a historic occasion. The handing over of the certificate of election is scheduled to be held on December 16,” Ramachandran said.
He said Gandhi was a stickler for rules and was particular about ensuring that the elections were conducted in a transparent and meaningful manner.
“Both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi never interfered with the election authority. We were given complete freedom to execute the onerous responsibility,” he said.
Gandhi, who filed his nomination for the president’s post on December 4, had been the party vice president for over four years.
Among the proposers of 89 nominations – all in support of Gandhi – was former prime minister Manmohan Singh who called Gandhi the “darling” of the party.
Singh accompanied Gandhi when he filed the nomination papers.
Originally 90 nomination forms were issued but one could not be filed as there were not enough number of proposers.
Hundreds of Congress workers and leaders from across the country thronged the party office and celebrated the announcement of Gandhi’s elevation by letting off firecrackers and dancing to the beat of drums.
Modi congratulates Gandhi on his ‘election’.
“I congratulate Rahul Ji on his election as Congress president. My best wishes for a fruitful tenure,” Modi tweeted.
The prime minister has been regularly mocking Gandhi, calling his elevation to head the Congress as dynastic politics
Gandhi was strongly criticised for Congress’ worst-ever showing as it lost power to Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Since the national election defeat, the party has lost polls in many states to the BJP, exposing Gandhi to further criticism.
Gandhi faces his first test as Congress leader in elections in Gujarat, Modi’s home state, which the BJP has ruled for over two decades.
He has led the Congress campaign for the election, winning the backing of some influential caste groups who say they have been left behind by an economic boom in the prosperous state, although Modi remains the man to beat.
“Everyone is waiting to see what he can do for the fortunes of the Congress,” Delhi-based political analyst Manisha Priyam said.
Supporters of the Congress shout slogans after the party named Rahul Gandhi as president, outside Congress headquarters in New Delhi yesterday.
