Without Congress' role, no change of guard possible at Centre: AK Antony

New Delhi: Congress veteran AK Antony said there cannot be any credible efforts to electorally dislodge the BJP at the Centre without acknowledging the central role of the Congress in the larger Opposition politics. Antony also said the role and leadership of the Gandhi family will remain crucial to the unity and revival of the Grand Old Party.

"The Congress is the second national party. Without the central role of the Congress, there can't be any credible opposition efforts to replace the BJP government. By ignoring the Congress' role, you can't form an alternative to the BJP government. The Congress will exist and nobody can finish the Congress off," asserted Antony at a press conference here on Wednesday where he bid farewell to electoral politics and Delhi.

"Of course, I have respect for regional parties," he added. Antony, who vacated his official accommodation and is slated to return to Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, said he would like to step down from organisational posts such as the CWC membership and chairmanship and membership of many key AICC panels.