Congress presidential election

Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Rahul Gandhi missed the opportunity to free Congress from dynastic and feudal politics.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> 2/Those who dedicated their sweat &amp; blood for <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@INCIndia</a> are today silently sobbing on such treacherous lack of transparency in party. How unfortunate, glorious history of the party is being subjected to brutality of a family, &amp; democracy strangulated! God bless <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficeOfRG</a></p> &mdash; Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) <a href="https://twitter.com/himantabiswa/status/937532631595466753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> 1/As a youth of 21st Century Rahul Gandhi missed a historical opportunity to free <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@INCIndia</a> from dynastic &amp; feudal politics. By getting ready to file nomination for Congress President in what&#39;s a terribly opaque process <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficeOfRG</a> has humiliated ordinary workers<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShameYouDynast?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShameYouDynast</a></p> &mdash; Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) <a href="https://twitter.com/himantabiswa/status/937532576629059589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> Yet another historic moment as Rahul Gandhi files his nomination to guide the party with our full support. Congratulations.</p> &mdash; Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KapilSibal/status/937612824804704256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>

Elevation almost certain

With no other claimants in the fray and today being the last day for filing nominations, Rahul's elevation as Congress president is almost certain, party sources say.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> As Mr Rahul Gandhi files his nomination, I wish him the very best as Congress President. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaWithRahulGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaWithRahulGandhi</a></p> &mdash; P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) <a href="https://twitter.com/PChidambaram_IN/status/937554564252758016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>

Shashi Tharoor congratulates Rahul Gandhi

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> Congratulations &amp;best wishes to Rahul Gandhi on behalf of <a href="https://twitter.com/ProfCong?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ProfCong</a>. Let&#39;s all work for a better India! <a href="https://t.co/enGus0FEvk">pic.twitter.com/enGus0FEvk</a></p> &mdash; Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/937612289200439296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>

Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah congratulates Rahul Gandhi ahead of his elevation.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> As <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficeOfRG</a> files his nomination to take over the Grand Old Party of India I wish him all the very best going ahead. Expectations are high, challenges are numerous &amp; I pray for his success.</p> &mdash; Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) <a href="https://twitter.com/OmarAbdullah/status/937577220876275712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> DMK&#39;s <a href="https://twitter.com/mkstalin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mkstalin</a> sends his wishes to Rahul Gandhi and highlights why he would be a beacon of hope for the country as Congress President. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaWithRahulGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaWithRahulGandhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/C5h6RKDxlH">pic.twitter.com/C5h6RKDxlH</a></p> &mdash; Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/937610777468346369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>

'Pidhikaran' of Congress is complete, says BJP

The BJP played on the words "Pidhi" and "peedi" while dismissing the process for generational change in the Congress leadership as "Pidhikaran", a reference to Rahul Gandhi's dog. Neither the old "peedi" nor the new "peedi" matter in the opposition party, BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said, using the Hindi word for generation to take a swipe at the process to elevate Rahul Gandhi from vice president to president of the Congress.

"Rahul Gandhi is the owner of the party. His elevation and nomination are their personal matter. However, they (Congress) are forced to make this arrangement (election) because of the regulations of the Election Commission of India," Union petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan said.

If anyone wants to participate in elections, he or she is free to do so. It's going on in democratic manner. PM has no business to comment on Congress's internal matter: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Rahul Gandhi filing nomination for party president.

Rahul Gandhi is a darling of the Congress and he will carry forward the great traditions of the party.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah meets Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at AICC HQ

Rahul Gandhi files nomination for Congress President

Senior party leaders including Kamal Nath, Sheila Dikshit, Motilal Vora and Tarun Gogoi filed first set of nominations(as proposers) for Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi with Dr.Manmohan Singh and other senior party leaders at AICC HQ after filing nomination pic.twitter.com/ilzQEu68tH

&mdash; ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2017

Rahul Gandhi with senior party leaders Mohsina Kidwai and Sheila Dikshit after filing nomination for Congress President

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> Delhi: Rahul Gandhi with senior party leaders Mohsina Kidwai and Sheila Dikshit after filing nomination for Congress President <a href="https://t.co/bxVrQRkM9S">pic.twitter.com/bxVrQRkM9S</a></p> &mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937551165692112896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>

Rahul Gandhi at AICC HQ, files nomination for Congress President

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> Delhi: Rahul Gandhi at AICC HQ,files nomination for Congress President <a href="https://t.co/QUHFFtHNXb">pic.twitter.com/QUHFFtHNXb</a></p> &mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937550447455301633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>

Rahul Gandhi reaches AICC HQ

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> Delhi: Rahul Gandhi reaches AICC HQ ahead of filing nomination for Congress President <a href="https://t.co/r4QXNb0cMP">pic.twitter.com/r4QXNb0cMP</a></p> &mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937549972186193921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>

"I think Rahul will make a very good PM ..."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> If you ask me, I think he will make a very good Prime Minister: Capt.Amarinder Singh,Punjab CM on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RahulGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RahulGandhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/nTkqIahuMy">pic.twitter.com/nTkqIahuMy</a></p> &mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937549664735281153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>

Congress workers and leaders enter AICC HQ

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> Delhi: Congress workers and leaders enter AICC HQ ahead of Rahul Gandhi filing nomination for Congress President <a href="https://t.co/5AMUqp4PaH">pic.twitter.com/5AMUqp4PaH</a></p> &mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937546097186160641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>

Do BJP presidents get elected?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> Do BJP presidents get elected? Did Nitin Gadkari get elected through a ballot process? Let them answer that first: Kamal Nath,Congress <a href="https://t.co/7nkYPYeyhi">pic.twitter.com/7nkYPYeyhi</a></p> &mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937544323679191040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>

Rahul Gandhi reaches former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh's residence ahead of filing nomination for Congress president.

Now, it is time for Rahul Gandhi to take the party forward

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> Sonia ji took Congress to new heights, we won many elections under her leadership and now it is time for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RahulGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RahulGandhi</a> to take the party forward: Dr. Karan Singh,Congress <a href="https://t.co/u6mPFfFgcw">pic.twitter.com/u6mPFfFgcw</a></p> &mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937536437313970176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>

I have known Rahul since he was a little boy and I knew and could see it in him that he would one day rise to the top.

Rahul Gandhi's elevation is a good sign for the party and I'm sure he'll do extremely well.

There has been criticism on whether the Congress election is democratic or not. I would say that this is such an election which is being supervised by the Election Commission of India.

All party general secretaries and CWC members, besides states and frontal organisations will file nomination forms in Rahul Gandhi's favour.

Congress delegates from various states will be at the party's headquarters on Akbar Road today filing their sets of nomination papers proposing Rahul Gandhi's name for the top post.

Party sources said Rahul Gandhi will file four sets of nomination papers. Senior party leaders Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, A K Antony and Ahmed Patel and party chief ministers will sign the papers as proposers.

Rahul Gandhi is likely to emerge as the lone candidate in the fray and decks have been cleared for his election as the Congress president. He will be succeeding his mother Sonia Gandhi, who has held the post for 19 years in a row now.

Rahul Gandhi will file his nomination papers for the election to the Congress president's post today. He'll be accompanied by a host of senior leaders including Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.