New Delhi. Now only two contenders are left in the fray for the post of Congress President. One is the party’s Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, Shashi Tharoor and the other is Rajya Sabha MP Mallikarjun Kharge. Another leader KN Tripathi had also filed his nomination, but his nomination has been rejected. Candidates can withdraw their names till October 8. If either Tharoor or Kharge withdraws, the other candidate will become the unopposed Congress president. Meanwhile, there is news that Mallikarjun Kharge is going to hold a press conference today at 12 noon. His decision to hold a sudden press conference is being discussed as to what Kharge wants to announce.
At the same time, Shashi Tharoor issued a statement on Twitter after KN Tripathi’s paper was rejected. Tharoor wrote that I now have a friendly contest with Mr. Kharge for the post of National President of Congress. I am very excited about it. Tharoor further wrote that the party and all my allies should benefit from this democratic process. Let us tell you that Shashi Tharoor has also been in the G-23 faction of disgruntled Congress leaders earlier. He had also demanded elections for other posts including the president in the party. Tharoor had decided to participate soon after the election for the post of Congress President was announced.
Delighted to learn that, following scrutiny, Shri @kharge and I will be squaring off in the friendly contest for President of @incIndia, May the Party and all our colleagues benefit from this democratic process! pic.twitter.com/X9XAyy8JCB
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 1, 2022
Earlier, there was talk of Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and former Madhya Pradesh CM Digvijay Singh also coming in the election for the post of president, but Gehlot’s silence on the rebel attitude of MLAs in Rajasthan Congress kept him away from the race. At the same time, after meeting Kharge, Digvijay Singh had decided not to contest the elections. However, Digvijay Singh also said that even if someone becomes the president, the leadership will remain of the Gandhi family.