Only 2 people can be president in Congress, mother or son: Mani Shankar Aiyar

With rumours of Rahul Gandhi taking over as Congress president soon, senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said that "only two people can be Congress president, mother or son".

"Rahul (Gandhi) already said that he is ready to contest election," Mani Shankar Aiyar was quoted by news agency ANI on Sunday. "To contest election, people are required. If there is no one and there is only one candidate, how will you conduct election in the first place," the senior Congress leader asked.

Rahul Gandhi is likely to be announced as the Congress president by October 31, taking the mantle from mother Sonia Gandhi who steered the party for 19 years.

Sources in the Congress have said that the party will announce its presidential election, if required, between October 15 and October 20. The election will be held if more than one nomination is received for the Congress president's post.

Congress MP Sachin Pilot had recently hinted at the possibility of Rahul Gandhi taking over as Congress president after Diwali. Pilot said that the "general sentiment" in the party is that Rahul Gandhi should lead from the front and "take over as the party president".

In an interview to PTI, Sachin Pilot said, "Organisational elections of the Congress are underway and the new president could take over shortly after Diwali. It is something that has been in the pipeline for the a long time."

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla recently said that the Congress has unanimously decided to elevate Rahul Gandhi as its president as it needs a leader in place of Sonia Gandhi who faces health issues.

"There are various types of leaders. Some leaders are made, some leaders are imposed. Rahul Gandhi is not a willing politician but the party needs a strong, good leadership," he said, adding that with concerns over Sonia Gandhi's health, the party wants Rahul Gandhi as its leader.