Congress is
scheduled to elect its next president on October 17 and the results of the
polls will be released two days later. The Grand Old Party’s presidential
elections now are perhaps the most important presidential polls this century.
Sonia Gandhi, the current Congress president, seems to be on her way out, and neither
Rahul nor Priyanka Gandhi seems keen on taking on the mantle. The time is ripe
for a non-Congress leader to take up the mantle.
Also Read | Shashi Tharoor on Congress poll rule change: Wanted clarification not confrontation
Controversies
aside, the Congress is attempting to alter its election process in significant
ways. These are five ways in which Congress is changing its electoral process:
1. Congress will issue QR code-based
cards to delegates in all states and Union Territories where Congress
committees exist. This is the first time such a move has been taken.
2. Candidates seeking to content the
presidential elections will need to possess delegate identity cards. Only
people with valid identity cards will be able to contest the polls.
3. A candidate for the presidential polls
needs 10 people of their state seconding their nomination
4. In case a candidate wants to get 10 supporters
from different states, a list of over 9,000 delegates will be available at the
Congress’ Delhi party office.
5. Upon signing the nomination and handing
it over to the chief returning officer, they will receive the entire list of
delegates.
Also Read | Congress changes internal poll rule ahead of presidential vote
The
Congress has been looking to overhaul its electoral process over the last few
years as the party loses election after election at the Union level. Rahul
Gandhi, a reluctant Congress president when he was, is not keen on taking up
the post again. Priyanka Gandhi, whose performance as Uttar Pradesh Congress general
secretary was abysmal in the Assembly polls, also doesn’t seem to be in the
running. Consequently, the stage is set for a new non-Gandhi Congress president.
