'Entire party wants Rahul Gandhi to become President': Karnataka Congress chief

Countering Maharashtra Congress Secretary Shehzad Poonawalla's allegations that election for the post of Congress party president is "rigged", Congress Karnataka chief, Dinesh Gundu Rao on Saturday said Congress is the only party which conducted an election for the post of president. 

Poonawalla had earlier sarcastically remarked that the upcoming presidential election in the Congress party was a "selection" rather than an "election".

"The upcoming Congress president election is a selection and not an election. It's a sham election process," Poonawalla had said and added that he had information that the delegates who would vote for party president had been appointed for their loyalty. He also suggested that there should be one ticket in one family. 

In response to these allegations, Gundu Rao defended his party's stand and said, " Congress is the only party which had polls for President.Even when Sonia Gandhi contested, Jitendra Prasad was the opponent."

The entire party wants Rahul Gandhi to become president, he said. 

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on November 20 had passed a resolution to make Rahul Gandhi the party's president.

The party has decided to set December 16th as the date of polls "if necessary". The counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on December 19.

The last date of filing nominations is December 4, while December 5 is the day of scrutiny of nominations. In case there is no candidate apart from Rahul Gandhi, Congress will announce his candidature on the last date of scrutiny.