India's Congress party elects Rahul Gandhi as new president
Xinhua,December 11, 2017 Adjust font size:
NEW DELHI, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Rahul Gandhi - the fourth generation scion of India's powerful Nehru-Gandhi clan was Monday elected as the new president of Congress party.
He will take the party's leadership from his mother Sonia Gandhi.
The announcement was made by Mullappally Ramachandran chairman of the Congress party's central election authority.
"Since the withdrawal date is over and there is only one candidate as per Article XVIII(d) of the Constitution of Indian National Congress, I hereby declare Rahul Gandhi as president of Indian National Congress," Ramachandran said in a statement.
Gandhi was the only one to file nomination and 89 nominations proposed his name for the party's top post.
Gandhi, who is currently campaigning in Gujarat, is likely to take over next Saturday - two days after the second phase of polling for local elections in Gujarat.
The 47-year-old would be the fifth person from the Nehru-Gandhi family to take charge of India's grand old party. Until now he was the party's vice-president.
Congress party is presently the main opposition party in India. Enditem