None other than Rahul Gandhi who held a meeting of the party office bearers on Monday conveyed the latest move. The chiefs of the party's youth and student wings as well as the seva dal and mahila Congress were also present in the meeting that lasted for over an hour.

As a trail basis elections to elect national president of the NSUI and Youth Congress would be held in which members of these two frontal organizations from all over the country would cast their votes. At the instance of Rahul a directive would be sent to all state units of these two frontal groups inviting nominations.

According to a senior Congress general secretary the party leadership at the state and national level would not back or field any of its candidate for the election for which date is likely to be announced shortly. The same method would be applied for the elections of the state presidents of all units of the Congress. 'This would bring in the democracy in the party organization, which would inspire crores of the Congress workers who have left hopes to become leaders at the state and national level,' the general secretary said.

If clicked, the same process would be applied at the district level. A party source said the idea of holding elections to invite competition among the workers and leaders was suggested by Rahul who has been entrusted with the responsibility of rejuvenate and reorganize the students and youth wings of over 100-year old Indian National Congress.

However, party office bearers including general secretaries and secretaries would continue to be nominated by the party president. The Congress chief, according to sources would also contemplate to hold election for the Congress Working Committee, an apex decision-making body of the party.

The party had last witnessed voting to elect members of the CWC was during the tenure of late president Sita Ram Kesari when during Congress session in Kolkata AICC members had casted votes to elect CWC members. The election for the office of the Congress president was also held when Ms Gandhi had taken charge of the party and late Jitendra Prasad and Rajesh Pilot had contested against her and got defeated in the very first session she completed as party president. (EON)