I’ll quit for Sonia

NEW DELHI, January 9: Congress president Sitaram Kesri today offered to quit his post in favour of Sonia Gandhi "as and when she so desires". Making an impassioned speech at the Sewa Dal convention here, Kesri sought to build bridges with 10, Janpath, calling Sonia the "supreme leader" of the party for whom he "always had the highest respect". This is Kesri’s second public obeisance to Sonia — the first being at last year’s Congress plenary session — and comes in the midst of growing reports that all is not well between him and 10, Janpath.

Even today, Kesri stressed that he had not many years to live and that he had said so on several occasions to Sonia.

However, despite Kesri’s public proclamation, doubts still persist in the party on whether the leadership issue has actually been resolved.