Congress Working Committee to meet on Nov 7, discuss organisational polls

A meeting of Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's apex decision-making body, would be held on November 7, and expected to discuss organisational elections amid suggestions that party Vice President Rahul Gandhi should be elevated as party chief.

"The CWC meeting will be held on November 7. It will discuss current national issues," a party leader said.

The meeting has been called a week before the start of winter session of parliament and the party's strategy for this is expected to be chalked out too.

There have been repeated suggestions that Rahul Gandhi should take over reins of the party from his mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party leaders said that CWC may take a call on the issue.

"This is the right time for him to take over as party chief. It will also bring about single-point decision making," said a party leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Congress leader Ambika Soni had recently said that Rahul Gandhi will soon become the party president.

There also has been a view in the party that Sonia Gandhi should continue at the helm as the party was facing major electoral challenges.

Sonia Gandhi became party chief in 1998 and is the longest-serving president of the party. She was re-elected party chief in 2010 for a five year term. With her term ending last year, the party had written to the Election Commission seeking time to hold organisational elections by the end of this year.

"The party is expected to seek another year to hold organisational polls," said another party leader.

The CWC meeting is also expected to discuss party's preparations for the upcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur.

--IANS

sid/ps/vd