Guwahati: Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma potshots at the Bharatiya Janata Party’s political rivals, the Congress party while addressing media persons here on Tuesday. He said the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) hoped to see Rahul Gandhi as the Congress president for 50 more years as it will be helpful to the party.

He also said that Rahul Gandhi’s continuance as the President of the All India Congress would be helpful for the BJP. “But, at the same time, you have to look for the overall democracy. For a vibrant democracy, you need an opposition because BJP (party) believes in the Parliament, there should be space for the opposition. If there is no Rahul Gandhi, there is a possibility of a vibrant opposition emerging within the Parliament, but if Rahul Gandhi continues, then there is no hope for the opposition”, he said.

Gandhi had offered to step down from his party post at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held on Saturday, taking moral responsibility for Congress' dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections. However, his resignation offer was unanimously rejected by the CWC. The CWC meeting was held in the backdrop of the Congress winning just 52 Lok Sabha seats and drawing naught in 18 states and Union Territories. Gandhi himself lost from the family bastion of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, though he won from Wayanad in Kerala.

He also added that since Rajya Sabha elections are all about mathematics, both the members proposed by the ruling front — Kamakhaya Prasad Tasa (BJP) and Birendra Prasad Baishya (AGP) — will win comfortably. “There is no mathematics in the side of the opposition”, he slammed.

also read: Sheila Dikshit, MK Stalin urge Congress chief not to resign from Party President post