NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday formally took over as vice president of the Congress, the ruling party of India, pitching for positive politics and promising to make the party an “instrument of change” and more accessible to both the youth and the experienced.

Regretting that the current environment in politics was “extremely acrimonious,” the 42-year-old leader asserted that negative politics is not going to take this country forward.

Dressed in jeans and a white kurta, Rahul, who arrived amid tight security, sought to be informal with party workers and press photographers seeking their views on the recently — concluded “chintan shivir” (brainstorming session) of the party.

“We are always fighting with each other. Often I feel that we are fighting with each other for small reasons. Basically all of us feel the same thing and I think what would like to do is try and reduce that thing slightly.

“I don’t want to get into negative politics. I don’t want to be critical of everybody. I want to get into positive politics. Because positive politics is what is going to take this country forward.

“Negative politics is not going to take this country forward,” Gandhi said from the AICC podium.

When a reporter sought to know does it mean he does not like debates on TV, he shot back saying, “I like all sorts of debates.”

In interaction with senior party leaders, he sought to raise their comfort level saying there were some leaders like Ahmed Patel, Motilal Vora, Mohsina Kidwai and others, whose experience in politics is more than his age and he is looking forward to draw from their experience.

“Congress party is best instrument to change things. It is the best instrument to bring youngsters into politics. I think it is the most powerful instrument.

“What I want to do is to take the Congress family, make it accessible to as many youngsters and experienced people as possible and try and use this instrument to change this country,” Gandhi later told the media.

This was Rahul’s first visit to the party headquarters after he was anointed as its vice president on Jan.19 during the two-day “chintan shivir” in Jaipur.

He held an informal chat with 60-odd office bearers including Congress Working Committee (CWC) members, party general secretaries, AICC secretaries and in charges of various states and frontal wings telling them such meetings both collectively and individually will now happen more often.

Noting that India is a dynamic country and this country can do wonders, Rahul said that there is a lot positive things about this country that also needs to be focused.