Sonia Gandhi To Remain Interim Congress Chief Till ‘Proper Procedure’ Is Put In Place

Sonia Gandhi had assumed charge after her son Rahul resigned a year ago

New Delhi: Sonia Gandhi will continue as the Congress party’s interim president till the time a “proper procedure” is implemented in the “not too distant future” to elect a party chief.

Sonia’s tenure as interim chief ends on August 10, a year after she assumed the post when her son Rahul Gandhi resigned, taking responsibility for the party’s debacle in the Lok Sabha elections. But Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said it did not necessarily mean that the seat falls vacant that day itself.

“Sonia Gandhi is the president, she will continue till such time as a proper procedure is implemented and it will be implemented in the not too distant future,” Singhvi said during an online media briefing.

“Yes, her tenure comes to an end on August 10. But be rest assured that there is a process which goes through the CWC (Congress Working Committee). This will be followed in the near future and a result will emerge,” he said.

The procedure, he pointed out, is there in the Congress’ constitution and the party is committed to follow it. Information will be shared soon, he added.

“Just like nature abhors a vacuum, political parties cannot function in a vacuum. It is true that the tenure is expiring tomorrow. There is a laid down procedure in the (party) constitution for elections. As you know it goes through the CWC etc.,” Singhvi said.