Decision on Cong chief likely today

NEW DELHI: A new Congress president will be chosen when the party's top decision-making body meets Saturday, sources said on Friday after a meeting at Sonia Gandhi's home.

Mukul Wasnik has emerged as the front runner for the post left vacant after Rahul Gandhi quit in May, owning responsibility for the party's national election debacle.

A non-Gandhi may be at the helm of the party for the first time in two decades as the Congress Working Committee meets Saturday. Wasnik, a former minister with much administrative acumen, is expected to take charge at least till the organizational elections.

In its 134-year history, India's oldest political party has mostly had a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family in charge.

But at a time all three Gandhis are in politics, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have refused to be a part of the process.

The Congress Working Committee will formally thank Rahul Gandhi for his role as president, the sources said.