Cong: Sonia will stay interim prez

New Delhi, Aug. 9: The Congress on Sunday said Sonia Gandhi will continue as interim president till such time a “proper procedure” is implemented in the “not too distant future” to elect a party chief.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, during an online media briefing, said it was true that Sonia Gandhi’s tenure as interim chief comes to an end on August 10, one year after she assumed the post, but it did not mean that the seat automatically falls vacant that day.

“Sonia Gandhi is the president, she will continue till such time as a proper procedure is implemented and it will be implemented in the not too distant future,” he told reporters.

“Yes, her tenure comes to an end on August 10. But be rest assured that there is a process which goes through the CWC (Congress Working Committee). This will be followed in the near future and a result will emerge,” he said.

The procedure is written in the Congress’ constitution and the party is committed to follow it, Mr Singhvi said, adding that it was being done and information will be shared on it soon.

Asked about the confusion over whether Mrs Gandhi’s term ends tomorrow or there is no deadline for when the term of an interim president ends, he said it is very clear that neither nature nor politics, nor political parties, permit or tolerate a vacuum.

“Just like nature abhors a vacuum, political parties cannot function in a vacuum. It is true that the tenure is expiring tomorrow. There is a laid down procedure for elections,” Singhvi said.

PARTY SPOKESMAN Abhishek Singhvi said it is true that Sonia Gandhi’s term as interim president comes to an end today, but the seat won’t automatically fall vacant