New Delhi: The nomination process for Congress president’s election will commence from today and will remain till September 30 where several party veterans are expected to contest for the post. Two names that are primarily being anticipated to run for the post are Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Thiruvanantha MP Shashi Tharoor.
Both the senior leaders had met the party interim president Sonia Gandhi after which Tharoor is said to have expressed his desire to contest for the post.
Gehlot also met Gandhi and conveyed that he will try to convince Rahul to take on the post of party chief and that it was time for him to lead the Congress as he is already combating the Modi government.
The Rajasthan CM however added that he could get in the fray if Rahul Gandhi does not agree to take on the party’s reins.
Amid the meetings, Sonia Gandhi said that she would stay neutral in the party polls.
Apart from Tharoor and Gehlot, a third party leader who is being seen as a likely contender for the post is Digvijay Singh, reported news agency ANI citing its sources.
Congress President Election Schedule
The notification for the election of the Congress President was issued on September 22 and the process of filing the nomination will start from today which will continue till September 30. Whoever wants to contest the election for the post of party president can file their candidature.
The Central Election Authority, headed by senior party leader Madhusudan Mistry, will oversee the voting. The last date for withdrawal of nominations has been kept as October 8. Polling will take place on October 17, while the election results will be declared on October 19.
Voting will take place only when two candidates are in the fray. If only one candidate runs for the post, he/she will be elected unopposed.