‘It's not a post, but…’: Rahul Gandhi's advice to Congress president hopefuls

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said his piece of advice to those who may contest the party president's post is that it is not just an organisational post, but an ideological post, which represents a belief system and vision of India

“My piece of advice to those who may contest for Congress president's post — you are taking on a position which is historic and defines a particular view of India. It is not just an organisational post, it is an ideological post, which represents a belief system and vision of India,” Gandhi, who on the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', said at a press conference on being asked about a piece of advice he would give to the Congress chief aspirants.

On one-man, one-post decision taken at the Congress chintan shivir, Gandhi said, “What we had decided in Udaipur is a commitment of the Congress and I expect that commitment will be maintained (on party's presidential post).”

His statement comes amid reports that Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot met Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday amid growing buzz about a contest in presidential election in the party.

In an indication of his willingness to contest the presidential election, Gehlot said he is ready to discharge any responsibility given to him by the party. His remarks came ahead of his meeting with Sonia Gandhi. There has been a buzz in party circles about the possible successor to Gehlot in Rajasthan if he contests and wins the party's presidential election.

Sonia Gandhi is learnt to have told Gehlot that the election for party chief will be "free and fair" and she will not endorse any name. Reports claimed that she also conveyed that the issue of "one person, one post" will come if a candidate is decided and gets elected.

The process of filing nominations for the post of party president will begin on September 24 and will continue till September 30. The election is scheduled for October 17 and the counting of votes will take place on October 19.

Rahul Gandhi is unlikely to contest the party's presidential elections, reports indicate.

News agency ANI reported that Rahul Gandhi will not come to Delhi leaving the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra in between during the process of organisational election. The yatra is in Kerala at present and will enter Karnataka on September 29.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who has signalled his desire to contest the election to elect a new party chief, met the party's Central Election Authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry on Wednesday.

On asked why the yatra not spending more time in Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi said the Congress has a very clear view on what needed to be done there.

“We are fighting a machine that has captured the institutional framework of this country, that has unlimited money and ability to buy, pressurise and threaten people. The outcome of that is what you have seen in Goa,” the former Congress president said.