The story so far: In a bid to end the Congress party’s leadership crisis prevailing since 2019, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on August 28 fixed October 17 as the date to elect a party president. While Rahul Gandhi was the presidential candidate favoured by many CWC leaders, other contenders have entered the field. The upcoming presidential polls will witness a battle between Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor, and the Gandhi family has indicated that it would remain ‘neutral’ in the presidential contest. Several members of the G-23, a group of Congress members seeking party reform, have batted for a fair competition for the top post.
In the CWC meeting, held days after the exit of the party’s longest-serving general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, the schedule for the election was endorsed. Throughout the meeting, both former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra remained silent, and no fresh appeals were made by the CWC members to Mr. Gandhi to return as party president.
The election process began on September 24— the date earmarked for the filing of nominations by candidates. It will culminate on October 17. In case of a contest, 9000 delegates will cast their votes on October 17 to choose the next party chief. The top post has been with the Gandhi family for over two decades now.
