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Rahul Gandhi Only Candidate Left in Running for Congress President

Rahul Gandhi will be accompanied by a host of senior leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh.

The Quint
Politics
Updated:
Rahul Gandhi files his nomination papers. 
i
Rahul Gandhi files his nomination papers. 
(Photo: Twitter/INC India)

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Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers for the election to the post of Congress president on Monday, 4 December. He was accompanied by a host of senior party leaders, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh.

Gandhi has emerged the lone candidate in the fray, and decks have been cleared for him to succeed his mother, who has headed the Congress party for 19 consecutive years.

  • Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi files his nomination papers for the post of party president on Monday, 4 December
  • No other candidate is in the fray
  • The election, if necessary, will be held on 16 December
  • If elected, Gandhi will succeed his mother Sonia, who has been the party president for 19 years in a row

Rahul Gandhi Only Candidate in the Fray

Returning Officer, M Ramachandran said:

There is now only one validly nominated candidate, that is Rahul Gandhi, left in the fray for Congress president election.

Congress Election Committee Addresses Media

Modi Suffering From Rahul-Phobia: Surjewala

The Congress on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he is suffering from a "Rahul Gandhi-phobia" and asked why he was silent on questions being raised by his own senior party leaders.

"Why is the Prime Minister suffering from Rahul Gandhi phobia? Why is he so much stressed?" Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters here ahead of party Vice President Rahul Gandhi's filing of nomination for its presidential post.

He also said that Modi's "love for Shehzad (Poonawalla), Shahzada (BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jai Shah) and Shourya (National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's son)" is well known to the world.

"But will Modiji tell when he will answer the questions of his own senior party leaders like Arun Shourie, Yashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha?" he asked.

Farooq Abdullah Welcomes Rahul's Coronation

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah welcomed Rahul Gandhi’s coronation.

This is a good sign that the young brigade is stepping forward. I hope he takes India to great heights where everyone lives with harmony. The post of PM lies in distant future, for now he must work hard to unite India and bring everyone together.
Farooq Abdullah

Don't Compare Mughal Rule to Party Elections: Mani Shankar Aiyar

Hitting out at the BJP for likening the Congress presidential elections to Mughal rule, party senior leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said that the election was a completely democratic process.

Don’t compare both, during Mughal rule it was understood that after Jehangir, Shahjahan will be the leader but here anyone is free to contest against Rahul Gandhi, its a totally democratic process.

He also slammed Modi for dubbing the election ‘Aurangzeb Raj’, calling him a ‘showman’ in turn.

Congress is a Burden on this Nation: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

Speaking to ANI on Rahul Gandhi’s nomination as Congress Party President, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called the opposition a burden on the nation.

Congress has become a burden on this nation, now would be good if after Rahul ji’s elevation once and for all this burden is removed.

No Democracy in Congress, Says Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

Calling Rahul Gandhi the ‘owner’ of the Congress Party, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan alleged that that the party lacked democracy, and they were being forced to make an arrangement due to the EC regulations.

He (Rahul Gandhi) is the owner of the party. His elevation & nomination are their personal matter. They are forced to make this arrangement (election) because of the regulations of EC. However, no democracy is left inside such a big party.

Assan Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma took a dig at Rahul, saying he will be remembered as a “failed dynast”.

Rahul got a historic opportunity and could’ve utilised it to cleanse Congress from feudal mindset but he didn’t avail it. He’s promoting same kind of feudalism and dynastic politics, which his earlier generation used to do. History will judge him as a failed dynast.
Hemanta Biswa Sarma

I Congratulate Congress on their 'Aurangzeb Raj': Modi

Addressing a rally in Gujarat’s Dharampur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Rahul Gandhi’s nomination for the post of Congress president an indication of ‘Aurangzeb Raj’.

Mani Shankar Aiyar said that ‘did elections happen during Mughal rule? After Jehangir, Shahjahan came, was any election held? After Shahjahan it was understood Aurangzeb will be the leader’. So Congress accepts its a family party? We don’t want this Aurangzeb rule

Adding that the Congress could never ‘tolerate’ leaders from Gujarat, PM Modi said that his party would work towards the well being of the people. The 125 crore Indians are our high command, he said.

Congratulate Rahul on Promotion Without Performance: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi on his unopposed nomination to the post of Congress president, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that such an election was only possible in a feudal setup.

I congratulate Rahul Gandhi for his promotion without performance, can only be possible in a feudal setup.

PM Can't Comment on Congress' Internal Matter: Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for having criticised the Congress’ party elections, based on Poonawalla’s allegations.

If anyone wants to participate in elections he or she is free to do so,its going on in democratic manner. PM has no business to comment on Congress’s internal matter
Siddaramaiah
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Rahul Gandhi is a Darling of the Congress: Manmohan Singh

'Cant Fool People Anymore': Shehzad Poonawalla

Speaking to ANI, disgruntled Congress leader Shehzad Poonawalla said there was a possibility of a ‘dummy’ candidate taking part in the party’s internal elections for the post of president.

<i>Mere sources mujhe bata rahe hain ki darbariyon mein baat chal rahi hai ki ek dummy candidate utara jaye taake ye election lage, lekin ab logon ki aankhon mein dhool nahi jhonk sakte (</i>My sources tell me that there might be a ‘dummy’ candidate in the elections, so it appears to be a democratic process. But the party can no longer fool the people).
Shehzad Poonawalla, Congress leader

He added that despite having served the Congress for 10 years and his criticism of the party having earned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s praise, it had led to him being called a “BJP agent.”

Poonawalla said that Gandhi’s candidature was not a nomination but a “coronation.” He had earlier alleged that the elections were “rigged” in Gandhi’s favour.

Congress Leaders Congratulate Rahul on Nomination

Senior Party Leaders File First Set of Rahul Gandhi's Nomination Papers

Senior party leaders, including Kamal Nath, Sheila Dikshit, Motilal Vora and Tarun Gogoi, filed the first set of nominations (as proposers) for Rahul Gandhi.

Congress leaders Kamal Nath, Sheila Dikshit, Motilal Vora and Tarun Gogoi filing the first set of nominations (as proposers) for Rahul Gandhi.(Photo: ANI)

Rahul Gandhi Files His Nomination

Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers in the presence of Manmohan Singh, Sheila Dikshit, and other prominent leaders.

Rahul Gandhi filing his nomination papers.(Photo: ANI)

Rahul Gandhi Reaches Party HQ Ahead of Filing Nomination

Rahul Gandhi reaches the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi ahead of filing nomination for post of Congress president.

Congress Workers Reach Party Headquarters

Congress workers and leaders enter the party headquarters in New Delhi ahead of Rahul Gandhi filing nomination for the post of Congress president.

It’s a Golden Day in Congress’ History: Randeep Surjewala

Rahul Visits Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee Before Filing Nomination

Rahul Gandhi visited former prime minister Manmohan Singh's residence ahead of filing nomination for post of Congress president. He also visited former president Pranab Mukherjee.

Sonia Proposes Rahul's Name for the Top Post

Accompanied by his mother Sonia Gandhi, Singh and other senior Congress leaders, Rahul Gandhi will file his nomination papers for the election to the top Congress post on 4 December, the last date for filing of nominations.

According to party sources, there were apprehensions among the party leaders earlier over the incumbent president being among the proposers to Rahul Gandhi's candidature.

The sources said that Sonia Gandhi will be the first proposer in one of the four nominations Rahul Gandhi will file.

The former prime minister will be the lead proposer in another set of nomination form.

There are going to be over 75 nomination forms in favour of Rahul Gandhi that will be filed tomorrow, the sources said.

Congress Leader Shehzad Poonawalla Alleges 'Rigging' in Cong Prez Polls

Labelling the Congress’ presidential elections ‘rigged’, the secretary of the party’s Maharashtra unit Shehzad Poonawalla on 29 November demanded that Rahul Gandhi first resign from his post before contesting for the top post.

Poonawalla added that he would also contest the election if it were conducted in a ‘genuine’ manner.

Calling the election a ‘selection’ rather than a democratic process, Poonawalla expressed his interest in contesting the elections, subject to some conditions, which included ‘genuine’ elections and Rahul’s resignation from his post of Congress vice president.

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Published: 04 Dec 2017,08:51 AM IST

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