CONGRESS SETS OCT 10 DEADLINE TO COMPLETE INTERNAL POLLS

Running behind schedule in completing the initial phases of the organisational elections, the Congress has set a deadline of October 10 for all state units to submit their list of delegates eligible to elect the new party chief.

Barring Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Kerala and Bihar, party sources said all other state units have by and large completed the process and finalised the Electoral College.

The cut-off date was set at a meeting between the party’s central election authority (CEA) -- a panel overseeing the organisational elections -- and returning officers in here on Tuesday.

As per the Election Commission (EC) deadline, the Congress has to complete its internal polls by December 31 this year.

After the CEA receives the list of delegates from states, the process of electing the new president will begin. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will meet to finalise the dates of filing and withdrawal of nominations for the party chief’s post.

The initial poll schedule circulated by the CEA to all state units and office bearers had specified that the elections will take place between September 16 and October 15.

However, the grand old party appears to be running behind that schedule.

The CWC had unanimously at its meeting on November 7 last year appealed to party vice-president Rahul Gandhi to take over the reins of the 131-year-old party.

Founded on December 28, 1885, the Congress is India’s oldest political party. Congress president Sonia Gandhi holds the record of being the party chief for more than 19 consecutive years after taking over from Sitaram Kesri in March 1998.

AS PER THE EC DEADLINE, CONGRESS HAS TO COMPLETE ITS INTERNAL POLLS BY DECEMBER 31 THIS YEAR