The Congress party on Monday announced elections to choose the next party president on December 16 "if necessary", and a new Congress President will be announced on December 19.The schedule for election was approved by the Congress Working Committee on Monday.The election will be notified on December 1, and the last date for filing nominations is December 4.The nominations will be scrutinised on December 5, and last date for withdrawing nominations is December 11.A statement announcing the dates said the date of poll would be December 16 "if necessary"The election is set to bring party Vice President Rahul Gandhi as the next President of the party. Sonia Gandhi is the current Congress President.