Time to part with Congress reins, Sonia tells Amarinder

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has now decided it is time for someone to shoulder the responsibility of the party and has said so to Capt Amarinder Singh, leader of the Punjab unit of the Congress. Capt Amarinder Singh said very soon Rahul Gandhi, Congress vice-president, would be taking over the reins of the party. The party reins are very likely to be given to Rahul in view of the UP elections scheduled for next year. Sonia's voluntary decision has been hailed by all party leaders. Moreover, touching 70s, she requires some rest. She is, however, expected to give guidance to Rahul on policy matters. The party has been faring poorly under Sonia. The party won only 44 Lok Sabha seats in the last elections, losing the leader of the opposition status. The party faced defeat even in the recent assembly elections in five States, except for Puducherry.