As rising prices was not enough, GST robbed of all money from poor: Rahul

NEW DELHI: On the cusps of being declared as the next Congress president, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a fresh salvo against the Modi government and said the rising prices have made the life of common man miserable.

The poor, who are already suffering from the rising commodity prices, also now bearing the brunt of GST, the Gandhi scion said.

The 46-year-old has filed his nomination for the post of party president and would succeed his mother in the role if he gets the mandate from the party members. Sonia Gandhi had held the post for 19 years in a row now.

Even before a final decision is taken, banners were put up outside the party headquarters here, congratulating him for taking over the party president.

Rahul is likely to emerge as the lone candidate as no one else has so far filed nominations. Monday is the last date for filing nominations, whose process started on Friday.

"There is now only one validly nominated candidate, that is Rahul Gandhi left in the fray for Congress president election," Returning officer M Ramachandran said.

Sonia and former prime minister Manmohan Singh are among the proposers for the candidature of Rahul Gandhi for the party chief's post.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 11, and the poll, if required, will be held on Dec 16. Counting will take place on December 19.

The elevation comes with a fair share of drama as the Opposition voiced their lack of confidence in Rahul's ability to hold them together, the way his mother did.

The party has also recently witnessed a much-publicised discord when its leader Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that the presidential polls were rigged.

Rahul became the Congress Vice-President in January 2013.