Is ailing Castro fit to contest Cuba elections?

New Delhi: Is the ailing Cuban leader Fidel ready to call it a day?

Castro has not been seen in public since handing over power to brother Raul in May last year. He later underwent stomach surgery.

With elections due next January, there is growing speculation over whether Castro will be a candidate.

The national elections date is set for January 30 but the question that looms large is whether ailing leader Castro will seek re-election to the National Assembly after temporarily handing power to his brother, Raul, 16 months ago.

The 81-year-old leader has not been seen in public since undergoing stomach surgery in July of last year.

Associate director of the Cuba Research Institute at Florida International University, Uva De Aragon says the vote may confirm what many observers have been expecting.

De Aragon says the January vote may serve to formalise the unofficial changes that have been happening in Cuba's leadership, and confirm the transfer of power from Castro to Raul Castro.

Cuban officials have not commented on a future presidential transition, which would mark the end of Castro's more than four decades in power.

Since taking over, Raul has been criticised for announcing few changes to address an economic decline and political concerns on the island.

De Aragon says a formal transfer of power could embolden Raul to begin tackling the problems.

She says, if elected president, Raul would begin to make the changes that Cuban people have been expecting.

De Aragon says many Cubans are hoping for economic reforms to end an economic slump, and few expect to see a political opening in the Communist system in the short term.

Local elections were held last month.

The US State Department has expressed concern that candidates in past elections were chosen through unions and other groups controlled by the Communist leadership.

(With agency inputs)