The Congress party could finalise the election schedule to formally elevate Rahul Gandhi as the next party president in the coming week.
Sources say the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision making body, could meet as early as Tuesday to decide the date for completing the election process.
“So far, no intimation has come to us about a meeting on October 24 but it can be called on a day’s notice,” said a CWC member.
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The CWC will approve the schedule prepared by the party’s central election authority (CEA). Sources say Kerala Lok Sabha MP Mullappally Ramachandran, who heads the CEA, has already handed over a tentative schedule to Sonia Gandhi.
Once the schedule is announced, the process could get over in less than a week. “Technically, the election process is almost over as nearly two-thirds of our State units have passed resolutions asking Rahul ji to take over as President. But procedural requirements like announcing the date for filing of nomination, time for withdrawal etc will have to be followed. Once that is complete, he will become the President-elect,” said the senior CWC member.
The actual anointment, though, is likely to take place at a plenary session of the party. No dates have been discussed at this stage to convene the session but a section of the Congress believes it should coincide with the 100th birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi on November 19.
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Leaving aside the poll bound States of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, most units have chosen their delegates and completed the organisational elections.
The plenary session will also see Team Rahul take shape as he will reconstitute the 25-member strong CWC.