Congress Presidential vote: Counting begins; Congress set to get first non-Gandhi president in 24 years
New Delhi: The Congress presidential vote counting will begin at 10 am on Wednesday. It would be the first time in 24 years that the party elects a party chief who is not a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family. Former Union Ministers Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor are in the fray.
Sonia Gandhi, who had been acting as president pro term since Rahul Gandhi resigned from the position following the party's disastrous showing in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, will be replaced by the next president.
Vote counting result at 3pm
It's result of vote counting will be announced between 3pm and 4 pm. The ballot boxes from the state headquarters have already arrived to the Congress office's counting location.
The odds-on favourite to win are in favour of Mallikarjun Kharge. According to sources, two agents from each side would be held back while five agents from each side will supervise the counting.
9,500 delegates cast their ballots
After counting, the Central Election Authority Chairman will make the announcement. At the conclusion of the party's organisational elections, more than 9,500 delegates cast their ballots for president.
Seven to eight tables will be set up for the vote counting, with two people at each table, according to sources.
According to sources within the Congress, the newly elected president will assume office after Diwali in front of a gathering of senior leaders at the Congress headquarters.
It is unclear if the winner would receive the certificate on Wednesday or at a later date.
The former front-runner for the position, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, will be in Delhi tomorrow. The Bharat Jodo Yatra will continue with Rahul Gandhi.
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