Baton of Congress party formally goes in Rahul hands

Sonia, the longest serving Congress President, assumed the post in 1998.

Rahul was elected  President of the party as unopposed.

The new Congress President took charge in the presence of Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, sister Priyanka Gandhi, brother in-law Robert Vadra along with several other party leaders and workers.

In his first speech as the Congress President, Rahul vehemently attack PM Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government. "The PM is taking us backward where people are beaten for their belief and killed for what they eat."

"Today politics is not used as a service for the people or to lift them but to crush" he said.

Speaking at the event, Manmohan said: "It is a unique day in the history of the Congress party. We depend on Rahul to transform, sustain the politics of hope the country needs."

Praising Sonia, the former PM said: "I had the unique privilege to get the guidance of Sonia Gandhi being the PM of the country for 10 years."

Sonia, who has retired from the party's topmost post but still a Congress MP, said: "Real dynasty will be made by a new leadership."

She even believes the Congress is facing the biggest ever challenge at a time Rahul is taking over as the President. "There is an attack on secularism. An atmosphere of fear, mistrust is created."

Image: twitter.com/OfficeOfRG