Newly re-elected Oscar says Congress decided on Rahul’s leadership

Newly re-elected Oscar says Congress decided on Rahul’s leadership

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, June 14, 2016: Speaking to media on his first visit to Udupi after winning the Rajaya Sabha elections,  Re-elected, Oscar Fernandes, Rajya Sabha member and AICC, All India Congress Committee, General Secretary, said on June 13, Monday that the party had decided that AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi should take over as AICC president as soon as possible.

Oscar  Fernandes said that the decision on this will be taken by AICC president Sonia Gandhi. “Whatever decision Soniaji takes, we will abide by it,” he said.

On the increasing clamour for  Priyanka Vadra, to join the party and take up the mantle,  Fernandes said that the party workers might have many desires. But it was up to the Gandhi family members and Sonia Gandhi to take a decision on the matter, he said.

Asked if there was no leader other than the members of the Gandhi family who could lead the party, Fernandes said that the new generation should understand the sacrifices made by the Gandhi family. Both the former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi laid down their lives for the sake of the country. “If you think a little about this, there will be no reason to ask the question,” he said.

Later, speaking at a felicitation function at the Congress Bhavan, MP  Fernandes thanked the Congress high command, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC president and Home Minister G. Parameshwar and leaders and workers of the party for his victory in the Rajya Sabha elections. Oscar Fernandes recalled that when he first contested as Congress candidate for the Lok Sabha elections in 1980, it was the autorickshaw workers and garage workers, who collected Rs. 250 to pay for his election deposit.