Rahul Gandhi formally announces resignation as Congress president, issues statement

Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said he is no longer Congress president and the party's working committee should meet immediately to decide on his successor. He later issued a statement on Twitter, saying: "It is an honour for me to serve the Congress Party, whose values and ideals have served as the lifeblood of our beautiful nation. I owe the country and my organisation a debt of tremendous gratitude and love, Jai Hind."

Gandhi earlier told reporters he has already resigned and the Congress Working Committee should make the appointment soon. "I am no longer the Congress president. I have already resigned. The CWC should convene a meeting immediately and decide on the new Congress president," he said  when asked about the future course of the party. 

It is an honour for me to serve the Congress Party, whose values and ideals have served as the lifeblood of our beautiful nation.

I owe the country and my organisation a debt of tremendous gratitude and love.

Jai Hind 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/WWGYt5YG4V

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 3, 2019

Taking moral responsibility for the party's poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi resigned as Congress president at a CWC meeting on May 25, two days after the results were declared. The party won 52 seats in the Lok Sabha election.

"As president of the Congress party, I'm responsible for the loss of the 2019 elections, accountability is critical for the future growth of our party. It is for this reason that I have resigned as Congress president," Gandhi said in the statement."

The CWC rejected his resignation and authorised him to initiate changes in the party in order to revamp and restructure it at all levels. Congress leaders at various levels have been appealing to Gandhi to take back his resignation but he has been unrelenting.  Some party workers are sitting on a 'dharna' outside the Congress headquarters, asking him to continue as president.

There have also been several resignations of middle-rung leaders. And two days ago, the chief ministers of Congress-ruled states met Gandhi in an effort to make him change his mind.  However, Gandhi has been firm on his decision to quit as president.

(With PTI inputs)