Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Congress president is the supreme authority in the party and the new chief will decide his role in the party. The Congress president is the supreme authority in the party. Every member reports to the president… He will decide my role in the party, please ask (Mallikarjun) Kharge ji and Sonia Gandhi ji," Gandhi replied when asked about the Congress presidential election during a press conference in Andhra Pradesh.
Gandhi gave away Kharge's name even before the results of the Congress presidential elections were officially announced.
Soon after his statement, the results were announced and Kharge was officially declared the winner of the Congress presidential elections with 7,897 votes, Shashi Tharoor got 1,072 votes.
Kharge would be the first non-Gandhi president in 24 years.
Rahul Gandhi also targeted the BJP and other regional parties for not conducting presidential elections.
"We are the only political party in the country that holds selections, we are also the political party that has an election commission inside it. Everyone asks questions about polls in Congress. I'm proud that Congress has had open and transparent polls. Why is nobody interested in elections in other parties, including the BJP and other regional parties?" said the Congress leader.
He further said that Andhra Pradesh should have one capital, and that should be Amaravati.
{{/usCountry}}He further said that Andhra Pradesh should have one capital, and that should be Amaravati.
{{/usCountry}}"As far as the bifurcation is concerned, the main thing from my perspective and from Congress's perspective when this bifurcation took place certain commitments were made by the Indian union to the people of Andhra Pradesh. We believe those have fundamental commitments and the commitments made by the people of Andhra Pradesh and we think those commitments should be fulfilled. That is our single most observation that those commitments that were made include special status should be fulfilled. We think that Andhra Pradesh should have one capital, and that should be Amaravati," he added.
The 3500 kilometres yatra will be a historic event for the Congress and the entire country. It is the longest march on foot by any Indian politician in the history of India, the Congress said earlier in a statement.
(With inputs from agencies)