Congress announces schedule for election of new president

The poll notification will be issued on December 1, nomination will be on December 4, voting of votes on December 16 and counting on December 19.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, vice-president Rahul Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior party leaders A.K. Antony and Mallikarjun Kharge attend the Congress Working Committee meeting in New Delhi.

The Congress on Monday announced the schedule for the election of a new president.

The schedule, finalised at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), says the poll notification will be issued on December 1, nomination will be on December 4, voting on December 16 and counting of votes on December 19.

Crackers went off at the Congress headquarters as soon as Randeep Surjewala, communication in charge of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) made the announcement after the meeting, which was chaired by party president Sonia Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence. 

The party’s central election authority notified the schedule.

The meeting was attended by top party leaders, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party general secretaries.

Party vice president Rahul Gandhi is expected to be the only candidate in the fray, party sources said.

The party’s organisational election has to be completed before December 31. The Election Commission has given the party the last extension for completing the internal poll process by the end of this year.