Rahul Gandhi’s elevation as Congress president is normally finally in the cards, and is expected to be done within the next couple of weeks, before votes are cast for Gujarat Assembly election.
Party chief Sonia Gandhi has convened a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Monday to approve the plan for election of the Congress president.
The party’s election plan is likely to be of 10-15 days. Rahul Gandhi is definitely one confirmed candidate, and if no various other party leader data files nomination, the former will end up being elected as the party president.
According to media reports, the party has to full the organisational elections before 31 December, the expanded deadline set by the Election Commission. It is believed that Rahul’s elevation as party president will take place before December 2.
In his recent election campaigns in poll-bound Gujarat, Rahul had dropped more than enough hints that he is ready to lead the Congress as party president.
Sonia offers held the post of Congress chief since 1998, and is already the longest-serving president of the party. Rahul’s taking charge will end the long apprenticeship that saw him named vice-president in January 2013.
The delay in convening the CWC and the suspense over Rahul’s elevation have been the subject of much debate in the party. It was in November last year that the CWC unanimously asked Rahul to dominate, but he wanted to stick to the election route.
Rahul becoming the party president will also place the stage for him becoming the party’s prime ministerial candidate for the Lok Sabha elections.
It is not clear whether the CWC will decide the function Sonia will play post Rahul’s elevation, or convene another meeting later on this.