Congress' president elections on October 17
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New Delhi: The Congress announced Sunday that the run-up to the party's presidential elections would begin on September 22 and polling on October 17.
After the Congress Working Committee CWC)- the party's highest decision-making authority- meeting, it announced that none of the members raised doubts on the election procedure, and reports suggesting so are dubious, IANS reported.
Congress General Secretary of Communication Jairam Ramesh tweeted, "There is some dubious "source-based' plantation going on that questions were raised in the CWC meeting today on the Congress President's election process & schedule. This is to make absolutely clear that NOBODY raised any question or any doubt."
Meanwhile, tightening anticipation on who will be elected to the post is mounting.
The CWC meeting was held at the AICC, while many leaders who were not in the place joined virtually, including Sonia Gandhi, who is abroad for a medical check-up.
IANS reports that a section of leaders wishes Rahul Gandhi to take over the president's post. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that it is his opinion that Rahul should don the post again.
But, Rahul has clarified that a non-Gandhi must take the party's helm.
But sources informed IANS that Sonia Gandhi is in mind to pick Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for the post. But more clarity will arrive only after Sonia returns, which is scheduled for the second week of September.
Senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who recently quit the Congress, had said that the election process is a sham. He had hit out at Rahul Gandhi - whom many are pitching for to take the party leadership again - for the party's performance in the last eight years.
Announcing the schedule after approval from the CWC, Congress Election Authority Chairman Madhusudan Mistry said that the date of issuance of notification is September 22, nominations can be filed between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from September 24 to 30, while scrutiny will be done on October 1. The last date of withdrawal is October 8, and the date of polling is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 17 at all PCC headquarters.