Rahul Gandhi is now Congress President, Sonia gets nostalgic

Sonia Gandhi had been at the helm of the country’s oldest party for 19 years.
It’s a new beginning for the Congress. Rahul Gandhi has officially taken over as Congress president with Sonia Gandhi Gandhi stepping down from the post after 19 years. The generational shift in the party ends the speculation that has been going on within the party over when Sonia will hand over the baton of the party to her son.
Stay with us for live updates of Rahul Gandhi taking over as Congress President.
Rahul Gandhi: The Congress took into India into the 21st century but the PM today is taking us back in time.
Rahul Gandhi: Politics today is devoid of nationalism. Politics today is not being used to lift the people up but to crush them
Rahul Gandhi: Like many others, I am an idealist. I joined the party 13 years ago
It’s the Rahul Gandhi era now! Rahul speaks for the first time as Congress President
Sonia Gandhi ends her last speech as Congress President by saying Jai Hind
Sonia Gandhi: I have full faith in Rahul. He has witnessed a lot of violence and I am proud of how he has been able to come out of it
Sonia Gandhi: With Rahul taking charge, I am sure he will be successful in bringing new and positive changes
Sonia Gandhi: There is a sense of negativity and fear that is being created in the country. At such a time, we will all have to be ready to make sacrifices for the betterment of the country.
Sonia Gandhi: We are not among those who get dejected by defeat. We are the caretakers of the values on which the foundation of the country is based.
Sonia Gandhi: Indiraji accepted me as her own daughter
Sonia Gandhi: In my initial years as party president, I tried to maintain the unity of the Congress
Sonia Gandhi: Lakhs of Congress members have helped me and supported through all ups and downs that I faced in this journey
Sonia Gandhi: I had to take charge of the party due to the unfortunate demise of Indiraji and Rajiv ji. It would have been a huge disrespect on my part to Indiraji and Rajiv ji if I would have refused to enter politics.
Sonia Gandhi: My connection with politics when I took over 20 years back was only personal then. I got married to Rajiv Gandhi and came into this revolutionary family
Sonia Gandhi: My connection with politics when I took over 20 years back was only personal then. I got married to Rajiv Gandhi and came into this revolutionary family
Sonia Gandhi: 20 years ago, when you chose me to be the party president, I was standing here to address you. I was extremely nervous, my hands were shaking. I could not imagine how I will be able to handle the affairs of the party.
Sonia Gandhi: Today, I am addressing you all for the last time as Congress President
Sonia: I congratulate Rahul for taking over as Congress chief. All my love and blessings are with him
Manmohan Singh: Now that Soniaji is handing over reins of the party to Rahul, we salute her for uniting the leadership, something that she has been doing since 19 years. Rahul brings a new sense of dedication and commitment as party president
Sonia Gandhi felicitated for her contribution to the party
Manmohan Singh: Soniaji has taken some historic decisions during the 10 years that UPA was in power
Manmohan Singh: I have been fortunate to be a part of the party and have served as the PM for 10 years under the guidance of Sonia Gandhi
Manmohan Singh congratulates Rahul Gandhi. recalling Nehru’s letter to Indira Gandhi, he says “One should not be sentimental but one should be full of sentiments.”
Rahul Gandhi handed over the certificate of Congress President, a new era in Congress begins
Official ceremony begins. Vande Mataram being played with Sonia, Rahul and Manmohan Singh present on stage.
Rahul Gandhi reaches Congress office. Take-over ceremony to begin shortly.
Congress workers march from Rail Bhavan to All India Congress Committee office at 24, Akbar Road
Mohsina Kidwai, Senior Congress leader: This decision will help the party strengthen. This is not about dynastic politics. People want this family to continue.
Mohsina Kidwai, Senior Congress leader: Every leader faces challenges. Rahul is fully capable to take handle the affairs of the party
The taking over ceremony will continue for an hour where Sonia, Manmohan Singh will address Congress workers. Rahul will also give his first speech as Congress President today.
Rahul Gandhi’s main challenge is of revamping of the party organisation apart from electoral battles in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Rahul Gandhi has been working as the party Vice President for over four years since 2013.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, current and former chief ministers, MPs, senior Congress leaders, and all PCC chiefs and delegates will be present at the handing over ceremony.
The 47-year-old formally takes as Congress president just two days before the counting of votes for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections, the outcome of which is expected to be a trendsetter ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
Security has also been hiked to control the outpour of Congress workers at the Congress headquarters and his residence as well.
Similar scenes can be witnessed at Rahul Gandhi’s resident too. He will be leaving for the Congress office shortly to formally take over the charge of the party at 11 am.
Celebrations are in full swing at the Congress headquarters. party workers had been calling for Rahul’s elevation for several years now.
Gearing up for the big day in Congress, posters and hoardings have been put up in the area around the AICC headquarters in Delhi.