Rahul Gandhi as Congress president: Elections rigged, says Maharashtra Congress secretary

Maharashtra Congress Secretary Shehzad Poonawalla alleged today that the elections for the post of the Congress party president had been "rigged".

The Maharashtra Congress Secretary 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," Shehzad Poonawalla said.

Shehzad Poonawalla said he had information that the delegates who would vote for party president had been appointed for their loyalty.

"I have got info that the delegates who are going to vote for the party president elections are fixed, its rigged. They have been appointed for their loyalty. Yes It takes courage to speak out, there will be all kinds of attacks against me, but I have facts," Shehzad Poonawalla said.

"I think there should be only one ticket in one family, be it Shehzad Poonawalla or Rahul Gandhi," the Maharashtra Congress Secretary added.

On November 20, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) 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.