Rahul Gandhi (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Several Congress office-bearers across the country have resigned to put pressure on Rahul Gandhi to withdraw his resignation and continue as the party president.

On Friday, Haryana Pradesh Mahila Congress president Sumitra Chouhan stepped down from her post, saying that she will not accept any party position till party president Rahul Gandhi withdrew his resignation.

According to news agency ANI, Deepak Babaria, Congress general secretary in-charge of Madhya Pradesh, working president of Delhi and Telangana Pradesh Congress Committees, AICC secretaries Virender Rathore, Anil Choudhury, Rajesh Dharmani, foreign cell secretary Virender Vashist and Goa Congress president have also resigned from their posts.

In her resignation letter to All India Mahila Congress president Sushmita Dev, Sumitra Chouhan said that while she was disappointed at the results of Lok Sabha elections, she was disheartened by Rahul's proposal to resign.

"The party's poor performance has nothing to do with Rahul ji, but everything to do with serious infighting, backbiting and one-upmanship practised by party functionaries. They should be removed urgently and promptly," she said.

Asserting that she was against Rahul's resignation, Chouhan said that the Gandhi scion "alone" can take the party forward adding that he is the only leader "accepted" to the party cadre.

"At this juncture, I would like to relinquish the position. I will not accept any party position till Rahul Gandhi withdraws his resignation. I tender my resignation herewith and I request that my resignation be accepted," Chouhan further said.

Yesterday, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha had resigned as chairman of the party's legal and human rights cell and urged others to resign from party positions to allow Rahul Gandhi "a free hand" to form his new team.

"We all should submit our resignations from party positions and give Rahul-ji a free hand to choose his team. I welcome Mr Kamal Nath's statement to that effect. I unequivocally submit my resignation as AICC Dept chairman Law, RTI and HR. Party cannot afford a stalemate for too long," he said on Twitter.

"Rahul-ji please make drastic changes to revive the party as a fighting force. You have the commitment and determination. Just cobble a good, acceptable and influential nation-wide team. I am with you in all situations," Tankha said.

Tankha's resignation came after Gandhi reportedly called for accountability within the party after he himself offered to quit as party chief.

Rahul has rejected the demands made by party MPs and leaders to reconsider his decision and told them that he has resigned taking responsibility for the party's debacle in the Lok Sabha election and he cannot ask others to follow suit.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said there is not even one per cent possibility of Rahul Gandhi continuing as party president.

"Today, I don't... (think there) may be even one per cent (possibility) of his (Gandhi's) coming back. CWC will definitely meet before they consider any other name. Unless his resignation is accepted by CWC, speculations and his assertions will go on," he said.

(With inputs from agencies )

