New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi on Monday looked set to take over the reins of the party from his mother on December 5, days ahead of the crucial Gujarat Assembly polls, with the Congress Working Committee (CWC) approving the schedule for the party president’s election.
The CWC, the party’s highest decision making body, met here on Monday and approved the schedule for the much-awaited election to the top party post, which has been occupied by Sonia Gandhi for a record 19 years since 1998, when she replaced Sitaram Kesri.
The election process will kick off on December 1 with the beginning of filing of nominations. The last date for nominations is December 4, until 3 pm. Following scrutiny of nominations on December 5, the list of valid candidatures will be put out on the same day at 3:30 pm.
Party sources said Gandhi, the 47-year-old vice president, is likely to be the sole candidate in the fray and is “deemed to be the next party chief” on December 5, a few days before the Gujarat Assembly polls. Polling for the two-phase election is to be held on December 9 and 14.
Counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on December 19, Mullapally Ramachandran, the chairman of the Congress’ central election authority, told reporters after the CWC meeting. A contest, however, seems unlikely.
Rahul Gandhi was appointed Congress vice president in 2013 and speculation about his elevation has been rife for quite some time, particularly after Sonia began keeping indifferent health.
For a long time, Rahul Gandhi was said to be reluctant about assuming the reins of the party, and it was only at an interaction with students and faculty of the University of California, Berkeley, in the US in September this year that he said he was ready for the job.
“I am absolutely ready to do that,” he said, responding a question.
The imminent promotion of Rahul Gandhi was hailed by several Congress leaders, but panned by the ruling BJP.
