New Delhi: The Congress’ Central Election Authority headed by Madhusudan Mistry has set the ball rolling for election of the party president. Mistry has asked the state units to send the names of the members of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) who are eligible to vote for the election of the party president.

In an internal memo issued to the state chiefs on Thursday, Mistry wrote: “This is to inform you that AICC intends to convene its meeting as soon as possible, and you will be intimated as dates and venue are finalized.”

The authority has asked to give the names and photographs of the AICC members for issuing them identity cards so that they can attend the meeting.

This is being seen as a move in the wake of a letter written by 23 party leaders who are demanding elections in the organization from the block to the CWC level and the appointment of a permanent president. The letter, which was sent to the party’s interim chief Sonia Gandhi, sought a leadership change, even as Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh Chief Ministers requested Rahul Gandhi to take over as the party chief.

Sonia Gandhi offered to step down from the party’s top post, but former Prime Minister and veteran Congress leader Manmohan Singh rejected it and requested her to continue in office.  With many Congress leaders openly demanding Rahul Gandhi to be brought back as the party chief without any further delay, the party made it clear that the CWC meeting would discuss the issue.

The elections in the CWC were discontinued after Sonia Gandhi took charge in 1998 and the nomination system was adopted for the highest decision-making body in the party. The revival of the parliamentary board was also sought by these leaders.