INDIA: The highest decision-making body of the Congress, the Congress Working Committee, today said that the much-awaited election of its new president will be held on October 17 and the counting of votes will take place two days later on October 19. Submission of nominations will begin on September 24, and the deadline is September 30.
The CWC meeting was chaired by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who joined virtually as she travels abroad for medical check-ups.
The meeting comes days after an explosive resignation letter from G-23 party dissident and former veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad blasted Rahul Gandhi for “childish behaviour”, “blatant immaturity” and for letting the party be run by “a coterie of inexperienced sycophants”.
In his letter to party president Sonia Gandhi, he also hit out at Rahul Gandhi for “demolishing the entire consultation mechanism of the party”.
The election will be announced on September 22, and candidates can withdraw their nominations until October 8.
The CWC also reiterated its resolve to make the ‘Mehangai Par Halla Bol’ rally in Delhi on September 4 and the launch of the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari on September 7 a “resounding success”.
Dealing with the fallout from a series of high-profile exits, including the exit of Kapil Sibal and Ashwani Kumar, the Congress tried to deflect the latest blow by claiming that Azad’s DNA had been “edited” and linking his resignation to the end of his Rajya Sabha term.
The Congress announced in October last year that the election of a new party chairman would take place between August 21 and September 20 this year.
Also Read: Ghulam Nabi Azad Quits Congress, Accuses Rahul Gandhi of Glaring Immaturity
