Stage is set for Sonia 4th term
Sept. 2: Mrs Sonia Gandhi will be re-elected unopposed as the Congress president for the fourth consecutive term and a formal announcement about it will be made on Friday. This is because she is the only candidate for the post and the party’s Central election authority (CEA) received only her nomination papers.
Thursday was the last day of filing nominations. 55 five sets of nominations were filed on behalf of 63-year-old Mrs Gandhi. Last time, 97 sets of nominations were filed, the CEA sources said. “The declaration could be made on Friday and a certificate would be handed over to the Congress president at AICC headquarters,” Mr Oscar Fernandes, the chairman of the CEA said.
The first group which met Mrs Gandhi and proposed her name for the top post in the party was led by Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. The other groups comprising Cabinet ministers and Congress working committee members was led by the Union finance minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee.
The AICC general secretary, Mr Rahul Gandhi, was part of another group of proposers, which was led by party treasurer, Mr Motilal Vora. Mr Rahul Gandhi filed the nomination papers on behalf of Mrs Gandhi before Mr Fernandes. Mr Fernandes said that the working committee would be dissolved after the formal announcement of Mrs Gandhi’s name as party president. He further said that a “steering committee” would be formed till the plenary of the party, likely to be held in November-December this year.
Among those who proposed her name included the party Chief Ministers, including Mr Ashok Chavan (Maharashtra), Ms Sheila Dikshit (Delhi), Mr Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan) and Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Haryana).
The nominations were submitted to Mr Fernandes, who is the returning officer for the poll.
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