The Congress on Monday announced that the election for the post of party president will be held on June 9.

Nominations will begin on May 25, and the last date for filing nominations will be May 27.

"Nominations will be scrutinised on May 27, and the last date for withdrawal will be June 3. The voting, if necessary, will be held on June 9," party general secretary Ambika Soni said in New Delhi.

In the last elections in 2000, Sonia Gandhi [Images] was elected president when she defeated Jitendra Prasad, former vice president of the party.

The Congress is initiating this exercise in order to complete formalities to the Election Commission's satisfaction.

The EC has made it mandatory for all political parties to hold organisational elections.

Meanwhile, Sonia said the Left parties' reported decision to stay away from the alliance's birthday bash would not spoil the occasion.

Gandhi was talking to reporters after a four-and-half hour meeting of the Congress Working Committee. The meeting was held to review the performance of the United Progressive Alliance government's one year in office.

Sonia said that there would be a UPA-Left Coordination Committee meeting on May 18 and added that the UPA is 'looking forward to exchanging views on everything'.

Gandhi congratulated Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh [Images] and his colleagues in government for 'satisfactory' performance.

"We discussed all the issues. The PM also gave us details about issues taken up during the period," she added.

Gandhi said at least 23-25 party leaders (CWC members, besides herself and the PM) spoke on the occasion and everybody expressed satisfaction over the performance of the UPA government.

WITH PTI INPUTS