EC examines Cong’s request on party polls
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission is examining a request from the Congress, seeking a year’s time to hold organisational elections.
Under the EC’s rules, all registered political parties have to hold organisational elections annually.
According to sources, the EC received a letter from the Congress more than a week ago, seeking more time for holding organisational elections.
If the party gets the EC’s nod, it will mean a year’s extension for Congress president Sonia Gandhi and for the office bearers including vice-president Rahul Gandhi. It would also mean that Sonia’s term as party president would be extended for a second time. She had been given an extension after her term ended on December 31 last year.
The Congress Working Committee on November 7 recommended a year’s extension for her as the party president.
“Unless the grounds for delaying elections are not satisfactory, there should not be a problem in giving an extension. But the call will be taken by the EC after examining the request,” said a source.
The grand old party wants to delay internal polls keeping in view the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur early next year.
UNDER EC RULES, ALL REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE TO HOLD ORGANISATIONAL ELECTIONS ANNUALLY