Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is likely to file his nomination papers next Monday (04th December) to contest for the party president’s post, party sources indicated in the national capital yesterday.

A formal announcement notifying the elections to be conducted for choosing the party’s next president is to be issued today (Thursday). Those wanting to contest the polls can file their nominations till next Monday. After the applications are scrutinized, the list of eligible candidates would be announced on Tuesday. 11th December is the last date for withdrawal of nominations.

In case more than one candidate is found to be in the fray, the polling would be held on 16th December, a news release by Congress Headquarters said. It is widely expected that no other party leader would file nomination to contest against Rahul Gandhi, incumbent vice-president and son of outgoing president Sonia Gandhi. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be proposing Rahul’s name when he files the nomination papers on Monday (14th December).

Nomination forms for the polls were distributed yesterday by the party’s appointed poll officials. The forms contain names of leaders of Pradesh Congress Committee presidents of all States/Union Territories who are expected to file nomination papers individually by proposing Rahul Gandhi’s name. Rahul’s is likely to be declared elected unopposed next week.