Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi inched a step closer to his elevation to the party's top job as the party on Tuesday officially announced that he was the sole candidate in the fray.
In a communique, returning officer Mullappally Ramachandran said that on Tuesday the party's Central Election Authority conducted scrutiny of 89 sets of nomination papers proposing a name for the post of party president, seconded by over 890 party delegates.
Uttar Pradesh — where the Congress's performance in the Assembly elections has been dismal with the party managing to secure only 6 per cent of total vote share — sent the highest number of proposals for Gandhi. Ramachandran said the large number of blocks in the state was the reason behind it.
"We have scrutinised each nomination paper, and found all the 89 papers valid. There is now only one validly nominated candidate, ie Shri Rahul Gandhi, left in the fray for the Election of Congress President (sic)," Ramachandran said in the statement. Monday was the last date of nomination filing. He added that December 12 will be the last date of withdrawal of nominations.
The official announcement for Gandhi's elevation is likely to be made on December 11. He is slated to take over the reins of the country's oldest party from his mother Sonia Gandhi, who was the party's longest serving president at 19 years, on December 28 — the party's foundation day.
The party is looking to rebuild itself once the Gujarat and later, Karnataka elections are over, said a senior party leader. "After these two elections, we are looking at a makeover of sorts within the party. There might be a change of the party's state presidents, in its district and block units," said the leader. He added that Gandhi's own team could also see a few changes.
On December 12, the party is planning a huge rally as a grand show to commemorate the 47-year-old taking over the party. Sources said that the party's high command could also announce a special session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), which can be availed as per Article XVII of the party's constitution.
A young party leader, seen as close to Gandhi said that for younger party leaders. Gandhi's elevation will infuse new hope. "It is long overdue, and it is also important for the party. We have been out of power for a few years in the Center, and the party badly needs some motivation. Our problems are new, and a young leader will understand and resonate with those challenges," said the leader.
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