I have resigned after taking full responsibility of Congress's defeat, says Rahul Gandhi

Delhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday refused to reconsider his decision to resign as the party president, saying he has taken full responsibility of party's debacle in the Lok Sabha elections.

"I have resigned after taking full responsibility and ensuring accountability for the party's defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. I cannot ask others to resign too. It is up to them if they want to take responsibility," he told the Congress leaders in Haryana.

He made the comments during a meeting with leaders from Haryana state coordination committee who urged him to continue to lead the party and take back his resignation.

Earlier, in a meeting of Congress Parliamentary party chaired by UPA chief Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday,  Gandhi told his party's Lok Sabha members that he was no longer the Congress president as he had resigned.

Rahul had offered to resign as the party chief at the May 25 meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) after the Lok Sabha elections. While the CWC had rejected his resignation and asked him to restructure the party at all levels. Since then party leaders have been trying to convince the Gandhi scion to reconsider his decision.

Last week, Gandhi had said the party would decide his successor. “I am not the right person to make a decision and will not get involved in that process,” he had said.

According to reports, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to be appointed as the next Congress president. Sources in the Delhi unit of the party say that a large chunk of Congress is in favour of Gehlot's elevation as the party chief.

Congress put a poor show in the Lok Sabha polls by winning just 52 seats, while the ruling BJP stormed back to power with 303 seats.

(With inputs from agencies)