Mr. Naik, 71, is the first senior leader to resign after Mr Gandhi announced at the party plenary on Sunday that he wants to give the younger generation a chance to come forward and lead the party. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Heading the call of Congress president Rahul Gandhi for paving the way for the younger generation, senior Congress leader and former MP Shantaram Naik resigned from the post of Goa Congress chief on Tuesday.

Mr. Naik, 71, is the first senior leader to resign after Mr Gandhi announced at the party plenary on Sunday that he wants to give the younger generation a chance to come forward and lead the party. A successor to Mr. Naik is yet to be appointed by the party.

Mr. Naik said, “I have resigned from the post of Goa Congress chief to pave the way for the younger generation to come forward. I was inspired by party chief Rahul Gandhi’s speech at the plenary.”

Mr Naik said he was turning 72 and wanted the young to now lead the party.

“I only want to suggest that somebody who has put in at least 10 years in the party and has love and commitment for the party should be given a chance to come forward and lead the party in the country,” he said.

Mr. Naik was elected to Lok Sabha in 1984 from North Goa constituency and twice to Rajya Sabha later. The Congress, with 16 legislators, is currently the main Opposition party in the Goa Assembly.

Mr Gandhi has always maintained that there is space for both the experienced and young leaders in the party. Before he took over as the party president, the high command put in a conscious effort to assuage the feelings of senior leaders of the party that they will not be rendered redundant.