Sonia Gandhi signs first nomination paper for Rahul's elevation

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday signed as the first proposer on the first nomination paper submitted for the election of her son and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi to the post of party chief.

Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said Sonia Gandhi's signatures were at the top of the first nomination form submitted to the returning officer Mullappally Ramachandran in the election being held at the party's central office to elect the party's next chief.

"She (Sonia Gandhi) has signed. Her signatures are the first on the first proposal (nomination form) submitted for Rahul Gandhi," Gehlot told Aaj Tak news channel.

Monday is the last date for filing nominations for the post of Congress chief.

Gehlot, who is party incharge of poll-bound Gujarat, also lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks about the Congress organisational elections.

"The affection that Rahul Gandhi is getting in Gujarat is worth seeing. The Prime Minister is making comments about Congress organisational elections out of frustration. He should not have made such remarks. There is dignity attached to the post of Prime Minister," Gehlot said.

Modi had accused Congress of "lacking internal democracy" during an election rally on Sunday.

Gehlot also said that decisions concerning the BJP leadership are made by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. "I want to ask the Prime Minister, (BJP president) Amit Shah, is there democracy in your party? The RSS decides who will be the BJP president, who will be Chief Minister and who will be the Prime Minister. What right they have to talk like this?"

He said that seats were going empty at Modi rallies in Gujarat.

"Wait for Gujarat election results. Then there are polls in the states and then people will give their verdict in the 2019 polls. The way 'Modi, Modi, Modi' slogans use to be raised in the last election...See the meetings of yesterday, chairs were empty. There is frustration over defeat in Gujarat," he said.

He said the future of the Congress and the country will be bright under Rahul Gandhi and the support he is getting is reflected in Gujarat.

--IANS

ps-sid/rn