The election for a new Congress President is likely to be postponed for a few weeks and the final schedule of the poll will be announced after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting scheduled to take place on August 28 (Sunday), news agency IANS reported quoting sources in the grand old party. It was earlier announced that election schedule of election will be from August 21 to September 20.
It is also being said that the election process, which was likely to get completed by September 21, may now be completed in October or November.
"A virtual meeting of the CWC will be held on the 28th August, 2022 at 3:30 PM, to approve the exact schedule of dates for the election of the Congress President. Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi will preside over the CWC meeting," tweeted K.C. Venugopal, party General Secretary Organisation.
Sources have also told IANS that the decision to postpone the meeting to discuss poll schedule for the party president's post was taken as several Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, will be busy in 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', which will commence on September 7.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Ashok Gehlot is said to be one of the top runners for the Congress president's post. It is also being said that Sonia Gandhi has herself asked Gehlot to contest the election. Sonia Gandhi said this to Gehlot during a meeting which she chaired before going abroad for medical checkup and treatment.
However, neither Gehlot or any of his confidantes have confirmed the same, but sources have claimed that Congress is serious about appointing someone beyond Gandhi's as party president. These reports have came days after Rahul Gandhi once again refused to take up the top post despite requests by several senior party members.
The grand old party is still in search of a consensus candidate for the top post and the Central Election Authority of the Congress was awaiting a nod from the party's working committee to announce the schedule for electing the next Congress President.