Ending weeks of speculation and uncertainty over his resignation bid, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday went public with a formal assertion that he has resigned as the Congress president, taking responsibility for the party’s decimation in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

“As president of the Congress party, I am responsible for the loss of the 2019 election. Accountability is critical for the future growth of our party. It is for this reason that I have resigned as Congress president,” Gandhi said in a four-page open letter posted on his social media accounts.

He made it clear that he had stepped down from his post at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held on 25 May ~ two days after the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls ~ when the CWC had met to take stock of the party’s crushing defeat at the hands of the Narendra Modi-led BJP.

“Immediately after resigning, I suggested to my colleagues in the Congress Working Committee that the way forward would be to entrust a group of people with the task of beginning the search for a new president. I have empowered them to do so and committed my full support to this process and a smooth transition,” Gandhi stated in his letter.

Despite having been the principal Opposition for five years, the Congress could manage to win only 52 of the total 542 Lok Sabha seats in the elections ~ an increase of merely 8 seats as against its worst-ever 2014 tally of 44 seats.

The CWC had then rejected Gandhi’s resignation and authorised him to initiate sweeping changes in the party in order to overhaul and restructure it across the board. Congress leaders at various levels have also been appealing to him since then to withdraw his resignation, with some even protesting and tendering their resignations, but Gandhi, 49, who had been elected Congress president in 2017, remained firm on his decision.

Earlier on Wednesday, Gandhi told reporters that he was no longer Congress chief and that the CWC should meet immediately to decide on the selection of his successor. Hours later, he made it public through his open letter.

“It is an honour for me to serve the Congress party, whose values and ideals have served as the lifeblood of our beautiful nation. I owe the country and my organisation a debt of tremendous gratitude and love,” he stated in his letter.

“Rebuilding the party requires hard decisions and numerous people will have to be made accountable for the failure of 2019. It would be unjust to hold others accountable but ignore my own responsibility as president of the party.”

Noting that many Congress leaders urged him to nominate the next Congress president, he asserted that “it would not be correct for me to select that person”, saying “Ours is a party with a profound history and heritage, one of struggle and dignity that I deeply respect. It is woven into the fabric of India and I trust the party will make the best decision regarding who can lead us with courage, love and fidelity.”

Maintaining that he will continue to fight for the idea of India and the Congress’s ideals with “all my strength”, he said: “The attack on our country and our cherished Constitution that is taking place is designed to destroy the fabric of our nation. In no way, shape or form am I stepping back from this fight. I am a loyal soldier of the Congress party and a devoted son of India….My fight has never been a simple battle for political power. I have no hatred or anger towards the BJP but every living cell in my body instinctively resists their idea of India.”

Underlining that in order to defeat its formidable opponents the Congress will have to sacrifice the “desire for power”, fight a “deeper ideological battle” and “radically transform itself”, he said: “Today the BJP is systematically crushing the voice of the Indian people. It is the duty of the Congress party to defend these voices. India has never and will never be one voice. It is and always will be a symphony of voices. That is the true essence of Bharat Mata.”

Referring to the Congress’s debacle he said, “We didn’t fight a political party in the 2019 election. Rather, we fought the entire machinery of the Indian state, every institution of which was marshalled against the opposition. It is now crystal clear that our once cherished institutional neutrality no longer exists in India.”

Gandhi also said, “We fought a strong and dignified election. Our campaign was one of brotherhood, tolerance and respect for all of India’s people, religions and communities. I personally fought the Prime Minister, the RSS and the institutions they have captured with all my being….At times, I stood completely alone and am extremely proud of it.”

Expressing his apprehension about the RSS’ “capture of our country’s institutional structure”, Gandhi charged, “This capture of power will result in unimaginable levels of violence and pain for India. Farmers, unemployed youngsters, women, tribals, Dalits and minorities are going to suffer the most. The impact on our economy and nation’s reputation will be devastating.”

He added that “The Indian nation must unite to reclaim and resuscitate our institutions. The instrument of this resuscitation will be the Congress party.”