New Delhi, Nov 20 (UNI) Decks cleared on Monday for the much awaited elevation of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to the post of party president with the Congress Working Committee giving its nod to the schedule for election of the party president with issuance of notification on December 1.
The CWC meeting, chaired by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and attended by Mr Rahul Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh besides senior leaders A K Antony and Mallikarjun Kharge and others, also passed a resolution charging the Narendra Modi Government with 'sabotaging' the Winter session of Parliament on 'flimsy grounds', attacking it on demonetisation and faulty implementation of the Goods and Services tax and trying to change the history of modern India by systematically erasing contributions made by former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
Expressing optimism about the electoral prospects of the party in Gujarat , the CWC called on Congress leaders and workers to put all their efforts for a positive result in that State and defeat the present dispensation there.
Addressing reporters here, AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala said the meeting began with the CWC passing a resolution condoling the death of veteran party leader M L Fotedar.
In her opening remarks at the CWC meeting, the Congress president said the Centre had taken the extra- ordinary step of not holding the session when it should be held to avoid questions and answer ahead of Gujarat elections.
'The Modi-government in its arrogance has cast a dark shadow on India’s Parliamentary democracy by sabotaging the Winter Session of Parliament on flimsy grounds. The Government is mistaken if it thinks that by locking the temple of democracy, it will escape constitutional accountability ahead of the assembly elections,' she said.
Attacking the Government on demonetisation and faulty implementation of the Goods and services tax, Ms Gandhi said, 'Unemployment, rising inflation, falling exports and GST are causing tremendous suffering to millions of people. A year later, demonetisation has done nothing but rub salt on the wounds of distressed farmers, small traders, housewives and daily workers.
'The fortunes of a handful are being built by destroying the future of the poor and the oppressed. Yet the Prime Minister continues with greater vigour, to make announcements, false promises, and to quote facts and figures that have nothing to do with the reality on the grounds.'
She also charged the Central government with trying to change the history of modern India by systematically erasing the contributions made by former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi .
Calling on the Congress leaders and workers to put all their efforts for a positive result in that State and defeat the present dispensation there, Ms Gandhi said, 'Rahul and many of you colleagues here and in Gujarat are working hard for a positive result in that State. Let us do our best to prove that people are not fooled and that they will make the right decision and defeat the present dispensation there.'
Party sources said at the meeting, Congress vice-president, who has been extensively campaigning across the state of Gujarat over the past few weeks, called on party workers and leaders to approach the Gujarat election with a single minded focus, just as 'Arjuna' approached the 'Fish's eye' in the Mahabharata.
Expressing her satisfaction at the conclusion of the election process in the party, Ms Gandhi thanked the Chairman, Mullapalli Ramachandran, members of the Central Election Authority and other party workers for carrying out this huge exercise with utmost diligence, integrity and impartiality.
Thereafter, the Congress president approved the schedule for the election of the party president , drawn up by the Central election authority.
The approval by the CWC, the highest decision making body of the party, sets the stage for Mr Gandhi becoming the party President.
Mr Ramachandran told reporters that the process for election of the party president will begin with the issuance of notification on December 1, and the last date for filing of nomination is December 4. The scrutiny of papers will be held on December 5 and last date of withdrawal will be December 11. Polling if required, will be held on December 16. Counting of votes and declaration of results will be held on December 19.
The Election Commission set December 31 deadline for the party to complete the process of organisational elections.

The approval of the schedule for party president's election sets stage for Mr Gandhi's elevation.
Party leaders say that if only Mr Rahul Gandhi files the nomination for the post of president, and no other candidate comes forward, he will be declared party president on the last date of the withdrawal of nominations.
Party sources said Mr Gandhi is the only candidate in the fray and was likely to be elected unopposed. Party leaders and activists have been demanding for a long time that Mr Gandhi be elevated as the party president.
The Congress has already completed the task of constituting Pradesh Congress Committees.
The Congress Working Committee has already made a request to Ms Sonia Gandhi to hand over the command of the party to Mr Rahul Gandhi. He has also indicated several times that he is ready to take on the responsibility of the post of party president.

The sentiment has been conveyed by nearly all PCCs, which have passed resolutions demanding that he take over as president.
The CWC also passed a resolution condoling the death of veteran party leader M L Fotedar.
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