Highlights:

• Rahul takes charge as Congress party president

• Asks party cadres to stand up to BJP

• Says anger and hatred cannot defeat Congress

• Thanks mother and former president Sonia Gandhi

• Party men swarm in at the coronation ceremony

• Celebrations party offices across the nation

Rahul Gandhi asks party cadres to stand up to BJP and reiterated that anger and hatred cannot in any way defeat the Congress party.

In his first speech as the president of Congress party, Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi told the party men to stand up to BJP and also reiterated that anger and hatred cannot in any way defeat the Congress party in India. He also asked the different cadres of the party and wings of the party to stand up against the BJP. Rahul’s speech at his coronation function was more directed towards hatred towards BJP than what he would be doing as the party president.

In his speech Rahul, thanked his mother and outgoing president Sonia Gandhi, who has headed the party for the longest term in the history of the party and said that she has a very strong will and she has completely transformed the party. Notably, Sonia Gandhi has retired after serving for the longest term as party president

Meanwhile, party leaders and workers from across the nation have congratulated their young president for the new responsibility and there are reports that there were celebrations in all the party offices in all the states of the country.

Here are the photos of Rahul Coronation ceremony

Rahul speaking at the coronation event

Crowd at the Rahul coronation ceremony

Sonia Gandhi specking at the event

Rahul thanks his mother Sonia Gandhi

Former PM Manmohan Singh presents momento to former party president Sonia Gandhi

Former chief minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot has also congratulated Rahul Gandhi on his elevation. Gehlot also thanked former party president Sonia Gandhi and expressed thanks that she for her works in the interest of the people of the country, and all the historic decision she took during her tenure as the party president.

There are reports that a firecracker show had interrupted Sonia Gandhi’s last speech during Rahul Coronation ceremony and with a laden heart she revealed the she was too nervous at the time of taking charge as the president of the party 19 years ago. She too reiterated that the party is not the type which will be afraid or bow down before anybody as the party fights for the soul of the country.

Ashok Gehlot‏ @ashokgehlot51
आपके कुशल नेतृत्व, यूपीए अध्यक्ष के रूप में देश की जनता के हित में लिए गए तमाम ऐतिहासिक निर्णयों के साथ-साथ कांग्रेस पार्टी हेतु त्याग के लिए #ThankYouSoniaGandhi ji

Student wing of the Congress party NSUI has thanked Sonia Gandhi for her services to the party as president and reiterated their belief that Rahul would rejuvenate the party and infuse the party men with fresh enthusiasm and zeal.  

NSUI‏ @nsui
After 19 years of undaunting service to the party and the nation, Smt. Sonia Gandhi hands over the baton to
#CongressPresidentRahulGandhi, a young mind who can rejuvenate the party with fresh enthusiasm and zeal.
#ThankYouSoniaGandhi for being the guiding light.

To our longest-serving president Smt. Sonia Gandhi, who worked relentlessly for the ideals of the Congress Party, & through it for the country; we express our utmost gratitude. A guiding light you will always be. #ThankYouSoniaGandhi #CongressPresidentRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/4dgnanKeUT

— Congress (@INCIndia) December 16, 2017

CongressPresidentRahulGandhi, Congress President, RahulGandhi, SoniaGandhi, RahulPresidentCongress, RahulCoronation, Congress party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Narendra Modi