Sonia Gandhi was today unanimousloy and unopposedly elected as the congress president for the fourth term with election authority chairman Oscar Fernandes making the announcement at a function in the All Indian Congress Committee headquarters at 24, Akbar road in the presence of the prime minister, senior congress leaders, union ministers, party workers and the media.
The result was officially declared after the scrutiny took place at 1500 hrs with Oscar Fernandes handing over a certificate to Sonia Gandhi as proof that she has been elected as the party president.
The function, which took place after heavy rains had almost drowned the lawns of 10 Janpath, was a picture of an almost collapsed marquee, a waterlogged venue with the leaders and others having to wade through water and mud.
A Seva Dal volunteer was overheard complaining that his expensive shoes were all but ruined. The rain gods played havoc with the arrangements which were poor even by Congress standards. A large number of congress workers who tried to get into the AICC also threw the security agencies into a tizzy.
Sonia Gandhi's speech was very short where she said almost nothing at all except to thank her supporters and said it is a big responsibility to shoulder but she would do it to the best of her ability.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who was seen sitting next to her was seen clapping enthusiastically when her election was announced.
Interestingly so Rahul Gandhi who was away for the last 3 days in Amethi was not present when the official announcement was made though he was in Delhi.
While Home Minister P.Chidambaram was one of the last to arrive, Digvijaya Singh was at his chivalrous best when he gave up his front row seat to Sheila Dikshit who came in late.
Pranab Mukherjee was seen chatting with Ahmed Patel on the back benches, during the ceremony.
At the end when Sonia Gandhi was receiving congratulations and flowers from senior leaders, Arjun Singh had to return home with the flowers still in his hand as he could not reach the Congress president among the jostling crowd. He has a problem walking and cannot walk fast. The prime minister left as soon as the functionwas over and did not interact with the assembled leaders seated below the dias with their pyjamas and sarees all rolled up to avoid the rain water.
