Congress hints at delay in Rahul Gandhi's elevation as party president, says have till 31 December to complete process

The highly anticipated elevation of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi as president of the party may get further delayed due to Sonia Gandhi’s illness and the upcoming election in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, according to media reports. [caption id=“attachment_4143345” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. PTI[/caption] Sonia’s illness has pushed back the scheduled meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC),  The Statesman  reported. Party sources said that they have until 31 December to complete the entire organisational election process and there is no rush. According to CNN News18, Rahul Gandhi’s tour to south Gujarat from 1-4 November might also have also delayed his elevation. Congress leader Ajay Maken told Times Now that the election process in the states is in an advanced stage. We have to take a decision by the end of this year and we will do so at the appropriate time. Sonia Gandhi was admitted at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) on Friday after she complained of an upset stomach. She was brought back to Delhi from Shimla, where she was on a vacation, in an air ambulance. A team of doctors from the hospital was deputed to bring her back from Shimla. The Congress is currently conducting organisational polls, including for the post of president. The CWC had earlier held a meeting on 24 October to discuss Rahul’s elevation, however the party sought 15-days to formally announce the decision,  Deccan Herald reported. It set a deadline to complete the process by the end of October. According to The Econmic Times , the party leadership is pre-occupied with alliance-making in Gujarat and election campaign in Himachal Pradesh, further delaying Rahul’s elevation. Several  congress committees and state organisations had earlier passed resolutions urging Rahul Gandhi to take over as party president. The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) had unanimously passed a resolution that Rahul be made the party’s national president. On 12 October, the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) also passed a resolution asking Rahul to take over the reins of the party. Several senior Congress  leaders like Randeep S Surjewala and Salman Khurshid too have called for Gandhi’s elevation. While Surjewala termed it an “unquestioned choice” of all workers and leaders,  Khurshid said that his elevation will be the adrenaline shot for party. Senior Congres leader Veerappa Moily also praised Rahul, saying he has given “excellent hope” for the party. The Congress had deferred the organisational elections after Sonia’s five-year term as party chief ended in 2015. She became party chief in 1998 and is the longest-serving party president. With inputs from PTI