Sonia Gandhi, the departing president of the Congress, expressed relief on Wednesday as she handed the gavel to Mallikarjun Kharge, the newly elected president of the Congress. The party has faced numerous crises in the past, but it never accepted defeat. According to Sonia Gandhi, the most threatening challenge is the danger that the democracy in the country faces.
Sonia Gandhi said that Mallikarjun Kharge has been elected by every Congressman, by their conscience, adding that Mallikarjun Kharge started as a Congress grassroots worker and then worked towards the top with his devotion and commitment to the people and the party.
“I just said I felt relieved today. I will explain why I said that. I will remember and acknowledge the love and respect that I received till my last breath. But this respect was a huge responsibility as well. I shoulder the responsibility according to my capability. Today, I will be relieved of the responsibility. So naturally, I am feeling relieved,” Sonia Gandhi said.
After Rahul Gandhi resigned as party leader after accepting responsibility for the defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha, Sonia Gandhi assumed the role of acting party leader. Sonia Gandhi held the position of president prior to that, from 1998 to 2017. A group of 23 MPs, including Shashi Tharoor, called for reforms and internal elections, which led to a rebellion against Sonia Gandhi.
In a contentious election between Kharge and Shashi Tharoor that took place after decades, Mallikarjun Kharge was chosen as the party’s president.