A day after resigning from the post of Goa Congress chief, Shantaram Naik today said senior leaders should make way for the younger generation for key roles in the party under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.
Naik (71) resigned from his post yesterday, saying he was "inspired" by Congress president Rahul Gandhi's speech at the party plenary about making way for younger leaders.
In his concluding speech at the 84th plenary session of the Congress in New Delhi on Sunday, Gandhi had said that he wants to give the younger generation a chance to come forward and lead the party.
Naik today said he would be happy if more leaders in the country make way for the younger generation.
"I have sent my resignation letter to AICC president Rahul Gandhi, and a copy to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. I am happy that in a similar tone PCC presidents Raj Babbar (from UP) and Bharatsinh Solanki (Gujarat) has also tendered their resignation," he said at a press conference here.
Notably, two days ago, Solanki had scotched rumours that he had resigned from the post of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee chief.
Naik said, "I will be happy if more people set an example across India, in general, by making way for the younger generation to take over."
"I was inspired by the speech (Rahul Gandhi's) so much so that I wanted to tender my resignation on the spot. But on a second thought, I felt it is not proper to resign there during the event," the two-term Rajya Sabha member from Goa said.
Naik said he has made way for a new face to be the party's Goa unit chief, but cannot suggest who should be his successor.
"I cannot decide who should be my successor but I can suggest that person should be someone who has given at least 10 years to the party. He should have love and have commitment towards the party," he said.
On whether the Congress will give tickets to fresh faces for elections, Naik said, "The youth should show their capabilities to win. Now with Rahul Gandhi taking over, I don't think there is anything to look back for the younger generation."
"I feel that commitment for the party is the most important thing in the Congress. The commitment should not be towards an individual but towards the party," he said, noting that there are some people who are only committed to their respective local leaders.
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