Congress on Thursday set the ball rolling for the first election for president’s post in 22 years with the issuance of poll notification, as the fog over the battlefield appeared to be clearing with Ashok Gehlot and Shashi Tharoor likely to lock horns for the top post.
Party’s Central Election Authority Chairman Madhusudan Mistry issued the notification for the election which will be held on October 17 with a promise that the process will be “free and fair” and would not be influenced by the political posturing by contenders and supporters.
The nominations will start on September 24 and end on September 30 while scrutiny will take place on October 1. The last date of withdrawal is October 8.
Gehlot and Tharoor are likely to file nominations around September 26.
Intense deliberations are being held with senior leaders meeting party chief Sonia Gandhi in the past couple of days. While Tharoor met Sonia on Monday, Gehlot called on her on Wednesday and was closeted with her for two hours. Senior leaders KC Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik and Pawan Kumar Bansal also had discussions with Sonia.
Senior leader Digvijaya Singh, whose comments in a TV interview triggered speculation that he may also file nominations but was later denied, will also meet Sonia on Thursday.
Though Sonia has been maintaining that she will remain “neutral”, she had earlier urged Gehlot to “lead the party” especially after it became clear that Rahul Gandhi refused to reconsider his stand not to return as party chief.
Gehlot has said that he will make a last ditch effort to convince Rahul Gandhi to become party chief. In case Rahul doesn't change his mind, Gehlot will enter the fray.
However, Gehlot wants to retain Rajasthan Chief Ministership though the High Command is against such a move. Senior leaders like Digvijaya Singh are also of the view that Gehlot should hold only one position.
Gehlot appears to be playing all his cards to ensure that his bete noir Sachin Pilot does not succeed him if he has to relinquish Rajasthan Chief Ministership in the run up to his Congress presidential bid and install his loyalist at the helm in Jaipur.
“No hard and fast rule that the president should be from Gandhi family. Will support one who is capable of leading the party. Whether I will support Tharoor or not will be known after Sep 30. The Kerala unit has not taken any decision not to support Tharoor,” G-23 leader PJ Kurien told reporters here.