NEW DELHI, Nov 6 — Supporters of Mr Jitendra Prasada today said any attempt to separate the elections for the posts of Congress president and PCC chiefs, scheduled for November 12, would be an attempt to throttle the democratic process in the party.

Mr Vinod Sharma, spokesperson for Mr Prasada who is contesting the Congress presidential elections, said that they were apprehending that elections to PCC presidents would be deferred at tomorrow’s meeting of the Congress Central Election Authority (CEA). "There is no justification for separating elections of PCC chiefs, AICC members and Congress president, the date for which has been declared as November 12. The electoral college for these elections is the same,’’ he said.

Mr Sharma said the Chairman of the CEA, Mr Ram Niwas Mirdha, had not yet responded to Mr Prasada’s letter of November 4 in which he had complained that pradesh returning officers (PROs) of many states had not taken action regarding November 12 elections. He also said that convention was to hold these elections on the same day.

When contacted, Mr Mirdha refused to say if any decision would be taken to segregate the elections scheduled for November 12 at tomorrow’s meeting. "States have declared different election schedules. The decision to hold a meeting with the PROs had been decided earlier and tomorrow’s meeting would discuss all the issues relating to elections,’’ he said.

Apart from a meeting of PROs with Mr Mirdha, the Central Election Authority of the party is also scheduled to meet tomorrow evening.

Supporters of Mr Prasada feel that the move to defer election to PCC chiefs is aimed at ensuring that the incumbent PCC presidents work fully for election of Ms Sonia Gandhi as the Congress president. "Such a move may also be aimed at avoiding contest to the posts of PCC chiefs,’’ said a Prasada supporter.