Amrinder Singh seeks a "charismatic Gen Next leader" as a replacement for Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh expressing his view on the matter of selection of the next president of Indian National Congress, has said that he would prefer to go for a young leader. According to Singh, a young leader will only be able to add a spirit to the Congress party.

The Punjab CM further states that the resignation filed by Rahul Gandhi was unfortunate.

As an advice to the Congress Working Committee, which is the party's top decision-making body, Singh has said that the replacement for Rahul Gandhi should be a "charismatic Gen Next leader, who can enthuse the people with his pan-India appeal and grassroots presence".

The Chief Minister further added that "The Congress needs young blood to galvanise its rank and file, and once again make it India's preferred and only choice. The leadership of the party should be such that it reflects the realignment of its vision to the evolving aspirations of the nation."

The current options in front of the Congress for the selection of the party president are Sushil Kumar Shinde and Mallikarjun Kharge. Mr. Shinde and Mr. Kharge are both senior Congress leaders and perhaps keeping this in mind the Punjab CM has hinted that he wants young blood in the position of the Congress president.

As sources hints, 77-year-old Shinde is seen one of the most likely candidates to head the Congress. Shinde is former Maharashtra Chief Minister and a former union minister who also nominated to be party’s vice-president in 2002. Another leader, Kharge is 76-year-old who has just tasted his first defeat in the Lok Sabha election in his political career of a decade. Kharge has remained a union minister in more than one Congress government.

As Rahul Gandhi has left the decision to choose the next president to his party,. It has been a primary task for the party to select a party chief. Gandhi, after his resignation, had tweeted, "Accountability is critical for the future growth of our party. It is for this reason that I have resigned as Congress president."

Also read: Rahul Gandhi resigns as Congress President, Takes blame for defeat in Lok Sabha elections