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With Rahul to take over as Congress president tomorrow, Sonia says: My role is to retire

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8 years ago

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With Rahul to take over as Congress president tomorrow, Sonia says: My role is to retire

~By Puneet Nicholas Yadav

Congress sources say Sonia Gandhi will continue to advise her son on crucial party matters, help him reach out to potential allies 

With her son, Rahul Gandhi set to formally take over as Congress president on Saturday, Sonia Gandhi has hinted that she will now retire from politics. 

“My role is to retire”, was Sonia’s cryptic reply to questions by television channel NDTV on Friday, as she reached the Parliament to attend the first day of the winter session. 

It remains to be seen whether Sonia’s remark would actually translate into her retirement from active politics and pave the way for Rahul firmly and comprehensively taking over command of the 131-year-old Congress party. Besides being Congress president – a post that she has held for 19 consecutive years since 1998 – Sonia Gandhi is currently also the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) which includes the party’s members from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. 

In the years before Sonia took over as party president, the CPP leader would be the Congress’ designated Leader of the Lok Sabha (a position held either by the Prime Minister or the leader of Opposition, depending on which position the Congress held in the House). The party would also have a Leader of the Rajya Sabha. After Sonia became the Congress president, the party constitution was amended and the Leader of the Lok Sabha as well as of the Rajya Sabha were made to report to Sonia as the CPP leader – giving her total control of the party leadership. 

Sonia Gandhi is also the current Lok Sabha MP from the Nehru-Gandhi bastion of Rae Bareli. It is unclear whether her decision to retire would mean that she will no longer contest from the seat too. Her health has been a cause of worry for nearly a decade now and while the exact details of what ails her have been closely guarded by the Congress party, she has been increasingly in and out of hospital for the past few years – the reasons for her hospitalisation, as declared by the party on different occasions, ranging from asthma, fever, food poisoning, chest congestion, et al. 

There is some speculation that if Sonia does indeed vacate her claim to Rae Bareli in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Rahul could contest from the constituency while his sister, Priyanka Gandhi, could be finally roped in by the party to contest from Amethi. Both Amethi and Rae Bareli have been pocketboroughs of the Nehru-Gandhi family for decades; sending to parliament the late Feroze Gandhi, the late Sanjay Gandhi, former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. 

Shifting Rahul from Amethi to Rae Bareli could also be a politically savvy decision. Rahul’s popularity in Amethi has diminished in recent years and the constituency is being craftily nurtured by Smriti Irani, Union minister and close aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi , for the past four years. Irani had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 general election against Rahul from Amethi but managed to substantially reduce his victory margin. In the years since 2014, Smriti has regularly been visiting Amethi while posters have often cropped up in the town declaring Rahul as “missing” and promising an award for information on his whereabouts. 

This is not to say that Rahul could lose Amethi in 2019, especially not after he becomes Congress president. But, the party might feel it prudent to project him as the candidate from his mother’s seat while getting Priyanka to make her much-awaited political debut from Amethi. Priyanka’s entry into active politics has long been speculated though she has remained silent on this issue, confining herself to just campaigning for the party in Amethi and Rae Bareli during Lok Sabha and UP Assembly polls. She is often credited with a much greater public appeal and political acumen than her brother and the sycophancy that Congress leaders have traditionally been prone to will no doubt trigger calls for her entry into electoral politics once Sonia firmly declares her exit. 

However, it is extremely unlikely that Sonia will completely disassociate herself from Congress politics. Highly placed sources in the party told India Legal that she will continue to play a behind-the-scenes role, helping a smooth transition of the party from the Old Guard of party veterans loyal to her to a New Guard of younger leaders who are confidantes of Rahul. The Old Guard v/s New Guard friction has afflicted the Congress for decades – right from the days when the late Indira Gandhi took over the strings of the party after her father, the late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru all the way to 2004 when Rahul made his electoral debut. 

Congress media cell chief Randeep Singh Surjewala has already clarified that Sonia was not retiring from politics but only from the post of Congress president and that “her blessing, wisdom and innate commitment to Congress ideology shall always be our guiding light”. 

Senior party leaders told India Legal on condition of anonymity that contrary to earlier speculation of the party amending its constitution to craft a new role for Sonia, no new designation will be carved out for her. The reason for this seems to be the assumption that such a move would give Congress’ political rivals, especially the BJP, a chance to spread rumours of two parallel power centres within the Congress – as was the buzz when Sonia declined the Prime Minister’s chair in 2004 and named Dr Manmohan Singh as her choice for the role. By not formally giving Sonia a specific role, the party will also avoid the possibility of leaders unhappy with Rahul’s style of functioning – and there are quite a few of those – rushing to her at the slightest instance of a disagreement with her son. 

Sonia will, sources say, continue to steer Rahul and the party through crucial political decisions and wield significant power by the sheer enormity of her stature within the Congress – and undoubtedly also in public life. Perhaps more importantly, she is expected to be the go-between for Rahul when he tries to find new political allies and build bridges with existing ones – something that he will now have to do increasingly in the run up to 2019 if the Congress hopes to pose a formidable challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP.

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Case registered against Mamata Banerjee over controversial 2025 religion remark

A formal police case has been registered against Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee in Siliguri, West Bengal. The complaint alleges that her 2025 “Ganda Dharm” remark targeted Hinduism and hurt the religious sentiments of the community.

Published

7 hours ago

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May 27, 2026

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Mamata Banerjee

A formal police complaint has been lodged against Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal’s Siliguri. The legal action stems from an alleged derogatory remark regarding Hinduism made during an Eid congregation in Kolkata in 2025.

The case was registered following a complaint filed by a local lawyer, Rinki Chatterjee, who alleged that the former Chief Minister’s comments deeply hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus globally.

Legal charges and complaint details

The police have invoked multiple sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Banerjee, including Section 351(1) for criminal intimidation, Section 352 for intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, and Section 353 for promoting feelings of enmity, hatred, or ill will between different communities.

According to the complaint, the controversy traces back to an Eid event organized on Kolkata’s iconic Red Road in 2025. While delivering a speech targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Banerjee purportedly referred to the version of Hinduism championed by the political rival as “Ganda Dharm” (filthy religion).

Chatterjee stated in her complaint that labeling Sanatan Dharma in such a manner at a religious gathering was “absolutely unacceptable”. The complainant also pointed to other instances where senior TMC leaders allegedly targeted Hinduism, adding that Banerjee made indirect threats to the Hindu community during the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election campaign to influence voters through intimidation.

Political responses to the FIR

The reported statements had previously drawn sharp criticism from the state BJP leadership last year, including strong objections from current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. However, this FIR represents the first formal legal action taken regarding the speech.

When approached for a response, Atri Sharma, a lawyer and general secretary of the TMC’s Darjeeling unit, declined to comment officially as a party spokesperson. However, he noted that many within the party internal circles found the remarks inappropriate at the time they were spoken. Sharma acknowledged that holding a high public office required restraint and affirmed that every individual holds the moral right to pursue legal remedies.

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Congress Dismisses Karnataka Leadership Transition Rumors After Six-Hour Delhi Meet

The Congress party has rejected ongoing rumors regarding a leadership change or a rotating Chief Minister formula in Karnataka, stating that a recent six-hour meeting in Delhi focused strictly on the upcoming Rajya Sabha and MLC elections.

Published

22 hours ago

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May 26, 2026

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The Congress party has strongly downplayed the intense political buzz surrounding a potential leadership transition or a change in the Chief Minister’s post in Karnataka. Following a marathon six-hour meeting with the state’s top leadership in New Delhi, the party explicitly rejected the ongoing speculation, labeling it as having “no reality.”

A brief statement issued to the media after the high-level meeting advised against spreading rumors, clarifying that the discussions were entirely centered on upcoming electoral strategies rather than structural changes within the state government. The party stated that the deliberations solely revolved around the state’s three vacant Rajya Sabha seats and the upcoming Member of Legislative Council (MLC) elections.

Rajya Sabha and MLC Polls Take Center Stage

The high-stakes meeting was attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, and party General Secretary KC Venugopal, alongside Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

Briefing the media post-meeting, KC Venugopal stated that conversations were strictly confined to the Rajya Sabha and MLC elections, emphasizing that there is no truth to any other political speculation. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also confirmed that the agenda of a potential cabinet expansion or a leadership shift did not come up during the six-hour-long discussion.

Background of the Power Struggle

The question of leadership in Karnataka has remained a recurring theme for over a year. Supporters of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have consistently maintained that the central leadership promised a rotating Chief Ministership arrangement when the government was formed after the 2023 assembly elections.

Speculation had intensified recently as the ruling government faced local anti-incumbency pressures alongside renewed political activity from the opposition bench. Some internal reports had even indicated a push from within certain sections of the high command, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, for a leadership revamp.

Balancing Caste Equations and Party Structure

The central leadership has navigated the situation cautiously to maintain political stability. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, 80, commands a powerful “Ahinda” support base—a coalition comprising minority communities, backward classes, and Dalits. This social alliance was crucial in helping the party navigate the traditional Vokkaliga and Lingayat caste dynamics during the 2023 elections.

Although the rotation issue had previously gained significant momentum when the government completed two years in office, the party high command had chosen to maintain the status quo to avoid any adverse electoral impact in neighboring assembly elections, such as in Tamil Nadu. With those elections concluded, supporters of the 64-year-old Deputy Chief Minister had expressed optimism for a transition. Shivakumar currently holds the dual responsibility of being the Deputy Chief Minister as well as the state Congress chief, signaling his critical organizational value to the party. However, for the time being, the party high command has firmly signaled that the current leadership structure will remain unchanged.

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Congress high command steps in to resolve Karnataka leadership impasse with crucial Delhi meeting

The Congress leadership, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, is holding a vital meeting in Delhi with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to find a definitive solution to the state’s prolonged leadership impasse.

Published

1 day ago

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May 26, 2026

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The top leadership of the Congress party is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting at its headquarters in the national capital today morning to address the long-standing leadership dispute in Karnataka. Senior leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Rahul Gandhi, will lead the discussions aimed at resolving the continuous friction between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

The ongoing power struggle over the state’s top position has persisted since the party’s electoral victory in 2023. For the current session, only Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been called to join the discussions in Delhi. When questioned about the agenda by reporters, the Chief Minister stated that he was unaware of the specific subjects to be discussed, noting that political speculation is inevitable.

Background of the internal division

The internal friction intensified significantly in November 2025 when the state government completed its two-and-a-half-year mark in office. Supporters of the Deputy Chief Minister pointed to a purported unacknowledged internal arrangement suggesting a rotational chief ministership split equally across the five-year term. Despite multiple prior interventions by central party leadership to manage the internal friction, a permanent resolution has remained elusive.

While Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has not been invited to this morning’s initial session, indications suggest that separate individual discussions and a potential joint meeting involving both leaders are planned as part of the broader resolution process. Observers note that several state ministers and legislators have also traveled to the national capital as the party leadership aims to settle the administrative roadmap and finalise leadership plans before the next assembly elections.

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