Rahul Gandhi, 48, told the Congress Working Committee, which consists of 52 members, that he would like to exit as its top boss nearly a year and a half after he took the job from his mother Sonia Gandhi, who was seated next to him at the meeting that ran four hours.

"We have to continue our fight. I am and will remain a disciplined soldier of the Congress and continue to fight fearlessly. But I do not want to remain the party president," Mr Gandhi reportedly said.

When the meeting ended, Mr Gandhi left without a word to the media; he was tellingly not present at the press conference that was addressed by several Congress leaders.

Mr Gandhi's resolve presents a huge dilemma for the Congress, which has rarely looked beyond the Nehru-Gandhi family for leadership, against all reason.

The Congress leadership has never looked beyond Gandhi Family for the leadership.

Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad while addressing a press conference said that " In a democracy winning or losing is different but providing leadership Is a different matter and Mr.Gandhi provided that leadership to Congress. He said we have accepted defeat but it was defeat of numbers and not ideology. He also said that Rahul Gandhi did a good job and only he can provide lead the party in difficult times, he can lead the opposition in such difficult time."