Rahul Gandhi takes over as exit polls predict Cong defeat: Top developments

Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi will take over as Congress chief today, in place of his mother Sonia Gandhi. Rahul, who has often been seen as a reluctant politician, was named the chief-to-be on Monday after no one else from his party challenged him in the internal election. Ahead of the ceremony, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said the party president-elect had always been a unanimous choice of the lakhs of workers across India and would infuse a new energy into the party.

"It is a momentous occasion for the Congress party. For 19 years, Sonia Gandhi has led the Congress. Rahul Gandhi has been a unanimous choice of the lakhs of workers across India who have elected him as the president of the party. It's a matter of great joy. Rahul Gandhi has a lot of challenges ahead of him. He is an honest person. He allows space for discussion with humility. His becoming the president will infuse a new energy into the Congress party," Pilot said. 

Top 10 developments:

1. Sonia's fragile health

Rahul, the erstwhile Congress vice-president, has succeeded his mother Sonia Gandhi and will ascend to the top party post on Saturday at 11 pm. He was elected unopposed. Rahul was elevated as the party's vice-president in January 2013 and has since then, operated as the party's Number 2. Sonia Gandhi, 70, the party's longest-serving chief, has been keeping unwell in recent years and has scaled back her public engagements, pushing Rahul to the fore.
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