Guwahati: The Congress is expected to elect a new president on Wednesday as voting for the presidential post began at 10 am.
Former Union Ministers Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor are in the fray and it will be for the first time in 24 years that the party will get a party chief who does not belong to the Nehru-Gandhi family.
The new president will take over for Sonia Gandhi who had been serving as interim president after Rahul Gandhi’s resignation due to the party’s disastrous performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The result is likely to be announced between 3pm to 4pm. The ballot boxes from the state headquarters have arrived to the Congress office’s counting location.
The odds-on favourite to win are in favour of Mallikarjun Kharge. According to reports two operatives from each side would be held in reserve while five agents from each side will supervise the counting.
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.
According to reports, seven to eight tables will be set up for the vote counting, with two people at each table.
Congress sources said that the newly elected president will assume office after Diwali in front of a gathering of senior leaders at the Congress headquarters.