Rahul Gandhi’s resignation: Sit-in, suicide bid inject drama outside Congress office

Rahul is said to be unhappy with the orchestrated events. The party’s elders allege that the sit-in and mass resignations are being organised by those working in Rahul’s office.

(L-R) Congress Chief Ministers V Narayanasamy, Ashok Gehlot, Amarinder Singh, Kamal Nath, Bhupesh Baghel after meeting party chief Rahul Gandhi on Monday. (Express Photo: Prem Nath Pandey)

While the drama surrounding Rahul’s decision has been dragging on for over a month now, sources in the party said a resolution is not in sight for at least a week now. Party leaders said Rahul and Sonia will travel abroad later this week to visit Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s husband Robert Vadra, who is said to have either undergone or is slated to undergo a surgery at an undisclosed location.

Priyanka is already said to be abroad.

One party leader said Rahul and Sonia could leave by Saturday, and any decision to end the stalemate can be expected only by July 10 or afterward.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Ghelot and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel at the dharna site. (ANI)

At the AICC, hours after some party functionaries began an indefinite protest, Congress veteran Motilal Vora addressed them in the evening, telling them that their sentiments would be conveyed to Rahul Gandhi. Those on dharna then watched the acclaimed film ‘Gandhi’ and dispersed.

Opinion : Rahul Gandhi’s decision to quit has left Congress in limbo

While the sit-in was on, a Delhi Congress worker, who some leaders identified as one Aneez, tried to climb on a tree with a rope in an apparent suicide attempt. He was stopped by the security personnel and taken away.

Organisers of the sit-in said the man had nothing to do with them. One of them said the man was an acolyte of Jagdish Sharma, a regular outside the AICC headquarters along with a handful of his supporters to celebrate birthdays of Nehru-Gandhi family members.