Slew of nominations filed for Rahul Gandhi for Congress President

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi is all set to formally become the president of Indian National Congress. Gandhi on Monday morning submitted nomination papers signed by many top Congress leaders proposing him for the top post of the Grand Old Party.

The entire process of filing nominations is on full swing at AICC headquarters with many leaders, party chief ministers and PCC delegates submitting multiple sets of nominations, proposing Gandhi's candidature.

Among the top leaders who have proposed Rahul Gandhi's candidature so far are Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Ahmed Patel, A K Antony, Captain Amrinder Singh, Sheila Dikshit, Mohsina Kidwai....etc . Many AICC General Secretaries, CWC members, Congress regional leaders and youth leaders are also proposing Gandhi's candidature as a demonstration of total unity in the party for his leadership.

As of now there is no sign of any other candidate entering the fray even though there is till till 4pm for filing nominations. It is not very difficult for an aspirant to contest for the top Congress post as long s/he fulfills two basic criteria; firstly, the aspirant has to be a PCC delegate and, secondly, a minimum of 10 other PCC delegates should propose the aspirant's candidature.

The nominations, opened on 1, December, will close today evening. If there is no second candidate, the annoucement of Gandhi's elevation will be just a matter of formality.

Around 90 sets of nominations are expected to be filed proposing Gandhi's candidature, to make him succeed Sonia Gandhi to the top post of the 132-yr-old party. Rahul Gandhi is taking over the leadership of Congress, which ruled India for nearly 50 years, at a time the party is not only struglling in Opposition but also facing huge electoral, political and organisational challenges.