File photo of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (left) and Congress president Sonia Gandhi
The most senior leaders of the Congress, including the Prime Minister and party president Sonia Gandhi, met this evening as voting concluded for the national election. (
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The Congress Core Group met amid predictions of a walloping for the party. The Opposition BJP, led by
Narendra Modi, is expected to get the most seats. Results of the election are due on May 16. (
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Among the leaders present today was
Rahul Gandhi, Mrs Gandhi's son, who fronted the Congress campaign.
Sources say that the meeting did not discuss whether to appoint a new chief for the Indian Army. General Bikram Singh retires on July 31.
The Opposition BJP has said the lame-duck government does not have the authority to make such an important decision. But the Election Commission told the government again today that it is within its rights to select the next Army Chief. "Dr Singh's government is going to demit soon. I leave it to their judgement of political propriety to decide whether it is right," said the BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad.
The Press Trust of India reports that the Defence Ministry has recommended Army Vice Chief Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag to the top post. It is now upto the cabinet's appointment committee to decide whether to proceed with the matter. (
Election Commission Gives Nod to Government to Appoint New Army Chief)
Traditionally, the Army Chief is chosen two months before the incumbent vacates office. "Given the circumstances, claiming that as a norm is just a smokescreen," alleged General VK Singh, former Army Chief and now a BJP candidate.
In a note to the Defence Ministry today, the Election Commission reiterated the posit that appointments and purchasing of equipment for the defence forces are exempt from the model code of conduct which bans the government from making important policy decisions or allocating key offices once elections are announced.