Rahul will always have pre-eminent place in Cong, Chidambaram

Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh Congress units have passed a resolution that Rahul Gandhi would be made party head.Senior Congress leader P Chidambaramalso  favoured a consensus for the post of the AICC chief and asserted that Rahul Gandhi will always have a "pre-eminent place" in the party irrespective of whether he is president or not as he is the "acknowledged leader" of the rank and file. CM Bhupesh Baghel, while talking to the media, said, "Chhattisgarh Congress Committee and Rajasthan Congress Committee have made this proposal. It has been done in 2 states, but if this proposal comes from other states too, then Rahul Ji should rethink this matter. Rahulji should take into consideration the sentiments of party workers."

In Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot moved the resolution. Gehlot's name is doing the rounds as a probable candidate for party head. However, the Rajasthan chief minister has always maintained that Rahul Gandhi should lead the party as its next chief.Rajasthan Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas told the media, “A resolution was passed that everyone will abide by whatever the national president decides on, including the appointment of state presidents. Another resolution moved by CM (Ashok Gehlot) to appoint Rahul Gandhi as party president has also been passed.” In the past few months, many states and frontal organisations passed a resolution to make Rahul Gandhi the party president.

Chidambaram said while election is the default option, "the better course — and all parties follow this — is to elect a national president by consensus". The Rajya Sabha MP said that if Rahul Gandhi is elected Congress president, he will be both leader and president, but if he is not, he will remain the acknowledged leader of the party and there will be another person holding the office of president. The notification for the Congress president's election will be out on September 22 and the process for filing nominations will be held from September 24 to 30.The last date for the withdrawal of nominations is October 8 and the election, if required, will be held on October 17. The results will be out on October 19.