Congress Working Committee to meet on Monday on Rahul elevation

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will meet on Monday to finalise the dates for elevating Rahul Gandhi as party's president. The election could happen even before Gujarat Assembly polls.

Party president Sonia Gandhi has called the meeting of the CWC, the highest decision-making body of the Congress, at 10.30 am on Monday.

"The dates for election of the Congress president will be finalised on Monday. If only one nomination is filed, the results will be announced on the date of withdrawal of nominations," AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said.

The CWC will approve the election schedule for party president's post. Speculation is rife that the 47-year-old's elevation would happen even before the first vote is polled in Gujarat on December 9.

While the filing of nominations could end on November 24, the last date of withdrawal could be December 1. However, if only Rahul is filing nominations, the party election authority can announce the results on the day the scrutiny of papers happens. If there is a contest, the polling can happen on December 8 and counting of votes, three days later.

The elevation of Rahul as party chief was in the offing for some time and several dates had been speculated upon. There was one version that it would happen only after the Gujarat elections as Rahul is spearheading party campaign there.

Once elected, Rahul will succeed his mother Sonia, who became the longest serving president of the Congress. She had said last month that Rahul would succeed her to the top post soon.

Rahul's election as Congress president will have to be ratified at a plenary session of the AICC. The plenary is also expected to witness the election to the CWC, the party's top decision-making body.