My role now is to retire, says Sonia; Rahul to succeed her tomorrow

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has said that it was time for her to retire. Rahul Gandhi has already been elected the new president of the party and he will formally take over the office on Saturday.

“My role now is to retire,” NDTV said quoting her in response to a question as to whether she will continue as Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party and what would be her role.

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Talking to mediapersons in Delhi ahead of Rahul’s elevation, Sonia said that she is retiring from active politics. She has not been able to participate in political activities fully due to health issues. She even kept herself away from the Gujarat assembly elections campaigning. Sonia said her son Rahul has been playing an active role for the last three years.

Sonia took over as the Congress chief in 1998 and will abdicate the post for her son after 19 years. During her tenure, the Congress won two successive general elections in 2004 and 2009. She also remained the United Progressive Alliance.

It was not clear as to what Sonia Gandhi meant — whether retiring from politics altogether or from the Lok Sabha.