Manish Tewari likely to contest Congress president poll
Election of Congress president slated for October 17, counting on October 19
New Delhi: With Congress preparing to elect the successor of party chief Sonia Gandhi, former union minister Manish Tewari is the latest among the list of contenders speculated to be in the fray.
The party today issued an official notification announcing the schedule for the election to the post of party president. The elections are slated to be held on October 17 at all Pradesh Congress Committees with results being announced on October 19, immediately after the counting of votes.
Sources close to the Sri Anandpur Sahib MP said on Thursday that he is considering throwing his hat in the ring after Sonia Gandhi made it clear that anybody can run in the poll.
Tewari’s consideration to contest comes amid reports of several party top leaders being in the fray.
Tewari is part of the G-23, a group of dissenters who had written to Sonia Gandhi seeking reforms in the party.
Rahul Gandhi, who is currently on his Bharat Jodo Yatra is not likely to file nominations for the election.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is one of the top picks of the Gandhi family as the successor to Sonia Gandhi, in case Rahul abstains from the race.
On September 19, Shashi Tharoor met Sonia Gandhi at her residence in the national capital where he expressed his wish to contest the polls to “make internal democracy” in the party stronger. Gandhi giving her nod to the Thiruvananthapuram MP, said that anybody can contest elections. Tharoor had also met with party’s Central Election Authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry on Wednesday.
Congress leader Digvijay Singh is likely to contest for the position of party’s national president, sources said today. According to sources, Singh will reach Delhi today, where he is likely to meet party interim chief Sonia Gandhi.
The election of the Congress president is slated for October 17 and the counting of votes will take place on October 19.
Mistry said those who want to contest for the post of president will need the signatures of 10 Pradesh Congress committee delegates.
Amid growing buzz about his nomination, Gehlot has said he is ready to discharge any responsibility given to him by the party. He met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday.