Congress to hold presidential polls soon

NEW DELHI: The Congress presidential poll process is set to get underway this month but there is no clarity yet on Rahul Gandhi, who demited his office in 2019, re-assuming the charge. Apparently, Congress is contemplating other names as well.

However, sources said that former party president Rahul has lined up a series of meeting with state units. He also plans to visit every district in the country in the run-up to the general elections. The plan is yet to be finalised.

Besides Rahul, another name doing rounds is Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

It is being said that he is not keen on leaving the state. But Rahul’s insistence on a non-gandhi taking over the position has let the party in a dilemma. Leaders close to Rahul have been trying to convince him to re-assume the post.

The Congress Working Commitee (CWC) members have appealed many times to Rahul to take over as the president of the party, but he has been reluctant. Senior Congress leader Ambika Soni said: “All the members were unanimous that Rahul Gandhi should take over as president of the Congress party.” The CWC has given the go-ahead to the internal elections of the party.

The CWC had approved the organisational elections and the schedule has been decided.

The election of the PCC President, Vice President, Treasurer, and PCC Executive and AICC Members by the PCC general body is scheduled to be over by Aug.20. The election of the AICC president is slated to be held between Aug.21 and Sept.20.

The election of CWC members and other bodies by AICC members during the preliminary session (date to be announced later) will preferably be held in September-october.

Separately, Gujarat Youth Congress leaders on Saturday held the Bjp-led government at the Centre responsible for the ever-increasing inflation, saying it has led price rise, poverty and unemployment in the country.

Skyrocketing inflation is one of the serious problems facing the country. In a release, the National Coordinator for Indian Youth Congress Youth Policy and Research Department, Muhammad Tabrez, substantiated his claims with figures. He said prices increased drastically from 2017 to 2022. Milk price went up by 12 per cent to 15 per cent, rice 20 per cent, wheat 20 per cent, salt 35 per cent, tuvar dal 37 per cent, mung dal 39per cent, potato 43 per cent, groundnut oil 51 per cent, tomato 86 per cent, petrol 37 per cent, diesel 41 per cent, gas cylinder 69 per cent, CNG 70per cent have increased in price.

Due to inflation, the life of poor and middle-class people becomes difficult, he added.