Sonia Gandhi says 'My role is now to retire'

New Delhi, December 15: A day before her son Rahul Gandhi takes over as Congress president, his mother Sonia Gandhi hinted that she's close to retiring from politics.

My job is to retire Sonia Gandhi told reporters on the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament when asked about her role after Rahul Gandhi formally takes over as Congress President on Saturday.



The Congress President is also the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), which includes members of both Houses of Parliament. Sonia's statement led to speculations that she might also hand over the leadership of the CPP to Rahul.

Mrs Gandhi took over as Congress chief in 1998, seven years after her husband Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated.

Rahul Gandhi is the sixth member of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to lead the Congress. The PM said in an election speech in Gujarat that Rahul Gandhi's role as top boss will mark an "Aurangzeb Raj" - a jibe that points to leadership that results in ruin.