Congress’ Central Election Authority Issues Notification for AICC President Elections

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 22^nd Sept. The process of choosing Sonia Gandhi’s successor began on Thursday with the central election authority of the Congress issuing a notification for the AICC president elections.

In the notification, Chairman of the Central Election Authority Madhusudan Mistry announced the election of the party’s president to be held in accordance with the provisions of Article XVIII of the Indian National Congress Constitution.

According to the notification, the nominations for the election will be accepted from September 24 to September 30.

The nomination papers would be scrutinized on October 1, with the closing date for withdrawal of nominations set for October 8.

If there is more than one candidate, the election will be held on October 17. On October 19, the votes would be counted and the results would be announced.

“Now therefore, I hereby call upon the delegates of the Congress Party to elect the President of Indian National Congress in accordance with the provision made under Article XVIII,” Mistry said in the notification.

The nomination form will be available at the AICC Office, 24 Akbar Road, New Delhi, the notification said.

The race for the Congress presidency heated up on Wednesday, with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot indicating that he may run, and Shashi Tharoor meeting the party’s poll panel chief to inquire about nomination procedures.

After more than two decades, the Congress is about to witness a contest for the position of party chief.

The upcoming elections would undoubtedly be historic, as the new president would succeed Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving party president, who has been in charge since 1998, with the exception of the two years between 2017 and 2019, when Rahul Gandhi took over.

The last election for the position was held in November 2000. Jitendra Prasada was defeated by Sonia Gandhi in 2000, and Sitaram Kesri defeated Sharad Pawar and Rajesh Pilot in 1997.