Last date of withdrawal is October 8 and date of polling is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 17 at all PCC headquarters…reports Asian Lite News
Leaders of the Congress’ G-23 are planning to contest the presidential polls, slated for October 17 with former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan being seen as candidates, sources said.
However, there was no clarity on the situation while the G-23, which had sought wide-ranging reforms in the party, has been hit by the departure of senior leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, and others.
Tharoor had advocated for contest for the top party post in an article on Monday.
As Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot emerges as front runner as the Congress President, being seen as choice of interim chief Sonia Gandhi, even as some want the return of Rahul Gandhi – with Gehlot too proposing his name, the G-23 was understood to have made up its mind to field a candidate if no Gandhi stood.
However, it remained to be seen if it would do so as it seemed unlikely as Sonia Gandhi’s choice would be challenged.
The last time the election was conducted for the Congress President’s post was in 2000 when Jitendra Prasada has challenged Sonia Gandhi but lost.
Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal said that the schedule for the party chief’s election has already been announced, and those who want to contest for the post should file the nomination before September 30.
Congress Election Authority Chairman Madhusudan Mistry announced the dates of the polling process after approval from the CWC, in its meeting held virtually and attended by G23 leader Anand Sharma, who had recently quit as the chief of a party panel for the upcoming Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections.
“It (CWC) considered and approved the following final schedule of dates suggested by the Central Election Authority of the AICC for election to the post of Congress President,” a party statement said.
The date of issuance of notification is September 22, nominations can be filed from between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from September 24 to 30 while scrutiny will be done on October 1. Last date of withdrawal is October 8 and date of polling is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 17 at all PCC headquarters.
Counting will be held on October 19.
“The CWC reiterated its resolve to make the Mehangai Par Halla Bol rally in New Delhi on September 4 and the launch of the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari on September 7 and its continuation thereafter a resounding success,” the party statement said.
The CWC extended its best wishes to party President Sonia Gandhi, who is abroad for a medical checkup, for a full and speedy recovery.
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