The Congress Working Committee unanimously decided that Rahul Gandhi should stay the party president, although he offered to step down.

At a news conference after the working committee meeting, party leaders said Rahul had been given full freedom to restructure the party organisation at every level.

Party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the unanimity of the decision was remarkable.

He said that if anyone can lead an Opposition nationally now, it is Rahul.

The CWC 'unanimously' called upon the Rahul Gandhi to lead the party in its ideological battle and to champion the cause of India's youth, the farmers, the SC, ST, OBCs, the minorities, the poor and the deprived sections, it said.

Top Congress leaders from across the country on Saturday got together to review the Lok Sabha poll drubbing, as the party's highest decision-making body met here.

The CWC meeting, chaired by Rahul Gandhi, was attended by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, chief ministers of party-ruled states and other top leaders.

There was speculation after the Lok Sabha election results, in which the Congress suffered a drubbing, that Rahul would step down.

A section of analysts had said immediately after the May 23 results that the mandate for Modi could be read as a mandate against dynastic politicians.