EC examines Cong’s request for extension to hold organisational polls

The Congress working committee on November 7 recommended a year’s extension for Sonia Gnadhi as party president.

The Election Commission is examining a request from the Congress party, seeking a year’s time to hold organisational elections.

If the party gets the EC’s nod, it will mean a year’s extension for Congress president Sonia Gandhi and for the office bearers including vice president Rahul Gandhi. (PTI photo)

Under the EC’s rules, all registered political parties have to hold organisational elections annually.

According to sources, the EC received a letter from the Congress more than a week ago, seeking more time for holding organisational elections.

If the party gets the EC’s nod, it will mean a year’s extension for Congress president Sonia Gandhi and for the office bearers including vice president Rahul Gandhi. It would also mean that Sonia’s term as party president would be extended for a second time. She had been given an extension after her term ended on December 31, 2015.

The Congress working committee on November 7 recommended a year’s extension for her as party president.

“Unless the grounds for delaying elections are not satisfactory, there should not be a problem in giving an extension. But the call with be taken by the EC after examining the request,” said a source.

The grand old party wants to delay internal polls keeping in view the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur early next year.