diff --git a/plenum/config.py b/plenum/config.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/plenum/config.py
+++ b/plenum/config.py
@@ -190,3 +190,6 @@ CLIENT_REQACK_TIMEOUT = 5
 CLIENT_REPLY_TIMEOUT = Max3PCBatchWait + 10
 CLIENT_MAX_RETRY_ACK = 5
 CLIENT_MAX_RETRY_REPLY = 5
+
+
+PRIMARY_ELECTION_TIMEOUT = 60  # seconds
\ No newline at end of file
add timeout for primary election to config