NEW DELHI, Dec 4 - Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today filed his nomination for the post of party president, heralding a generational shift in the leadership of the grand old party seeking a revival in its electoral fortunes.
With no other claimants in the fray and today being the last day for filing nominations, his elevation as Congress president is almost certain, party sources said.
The 47-year-old Gandhi scion is set to take over the party�s reins from Sonia Gandhi, who has steered the party for 19 years, including the 10 when it led the UPA government.
Accompanied by a host of senior party leaders, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi filed his papers before the party�s Central Election Committee.
Sonia Gandhi, one of the leaders who proposed Rahul�s name, was not present during the nomination filing.
With speculation over whether or not Rahul Gandhi � who was appointed vice president in January 2013 � will step into his mother�s shoes finally ending, the party�s leaders hailed the day as �historic�.
They exuded confidence that he will carry forward the party�s traditions and lead it to victory in the next general elections in 2019. The move also comes just ahead of the elections in Gujarat, which goes to the polls on December 9 and 14.
In 2014, the Congress was reduced to its lowest-ever tally of 44 seats in the Lok Sabha and has since suffered a series of electoral defeats at the state level.
While there were several nomination forms filed on behalf of Rahul Gandhi, the Congress vice president personally filed two sets.
Before filing his nominations, Rahul Gandhi sought the blessings of former president Pranab Mukherjee and Manmohan Singh besides his mother. � PTI
