‘Hard To Replace Him’: Salman Khurshid Says Congress Can’t Afford To Allow Rahul Gandhi Quit Party Presidency

Former external minister and senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Monday (3 May) said the party cannot afford to let president Rahul Gandhi quit his post as it would be difficult to replace him, the Financial Express reports.

Rahul Gandhi had offered to quit as Congress chief during the party’s working committee meeting on 25 May, post the poll debacle. Khurshid, when asked if Gandhi continuing on his post is the Congress’s only way forward, said, “I certainly think so.”

The party can't afford to let go of Rahul, who is reportedly firm on his decision to quit the post despite him saying that he would be around to “fight the battle”, Khurshid said.

“I think there is a lot more to the structure of the party, let us call it inherent and historical, that his presence in control is imperative, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to replace (him),” PTI quoted him saying while adding that he respects what Rahul Gandhi feels.

“We understand very difficult, complex, psychological decision it must be for him, but I would certainly appeal that he stays and we find solutions to all our problems,” he said.