Only Priyanka from the Gandhi family joined the internal meeting to choose Rahul’s successor

New Delhi : After quitting the Congress chief’s post Rahul Gandhi walked out of today’s internal meeting. He did it to give the party a free hand to choose his successor. His mother Sonia Gandhi, who accompanied him, said they did not want to complicate the issue or “play favourites”.

“It is a mistake that our names were added to the groups.” Sonia told reporters, referring to zonal groups that are expected to play a key role in the selection process.

Role of the Gandhis in Congress at present

Rahul and Sonia are part of the zonal groups. Zonal groups are formed at Mr Gandhi’s suggestion that a broader consultation should be conducted before a new leader is chosen.

Sonia Gandhi was made part of the eastern zonal committee. Rahul Gandhi was named as part of the zonal committee for western India. Maharashtra is the largest state where elections will be held next.

Mr Gandhi’s sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who entered active police politics in February, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, is however, attending the session. The 46-year-old was made the Congress general secretary in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh. She is part of the committee for the north zone.

There have been demands that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra take charge of the party. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was the last to call for the step. But Rahul Gandhi has ruled it out, saying the party cannot rope in his mother or sister for the top job.

Rahul Gandhi had quit the party’s top job after its devastating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.

Rahul had lost his traditional family turf Amethi to the BJP’s Smriti Irani. Party stalwarts like Mallikarjun Kharge and Jyotiraditya Scindia were also defeated.

But the Congress – led by members of the Nehru-Gandhi family for most of its 130-odd years, had refused to accept Rahul Gandhi’s decision.