Finally, Shashi Tharoor and Gandhi supporters' Mallikarjun Kharge are facing off: 10 Facts

  • Oct. 1, 2022, 11:10 a.m.

It is Mallikarjun Kharge versus Shashi Tharoor as the Congress picks its first non-Gandhi president in 25 years. Mr. Kharge, 80, is the candidate backed by the Gandhis and is almost certain to be elected in the October 17 polls.

Here are the top 10 points in this big story:

  1. There is no official candidate for the office of Congress President. It is likely the Gandhis may not vote in the internal election to maintain their neutrality, sources have said 

  2. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot bowed out of the race after apologising to Sonia Gandhi on Thursday for the Rajasthan revolt by MLAs loyal to him.
  3. Mr. Tharoor submitted his nominations on Friday, before the deadline of 3 p.m. Former Jharkhand minister K N Tripathi, the contest's third candidate, has also filed his papers. After meeting with Mr. Kharge in the morning, Digvijaya Singh, who collected his nomination papers on Thursday, dropped out of the contest.

  4. After a late-night meeting, Congress veteran KC Venugopal conveyed to Mr. Kharge that the leadership wants him to contest, said sources, despite the Gandhis' saying they would remain neutral.

  5. This is the first non-Gandhi presidential election in Congress in more than 20 years. The Gandhis have refused to contest, making way for other senior leaders to head the party.

  6. According to sources, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a key member of the "G-23" dissenters who sent an explosive letter to Sonia Gandhi in 2020 demanding organisational changes, has endorsed Mr. Kharge for the top job.

  7. Mr. Kharge, who filed his nomination on Friday, is likely to resign as Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha in line with the Congress's "one person, one post" rule, said sources.
  8. Mr. Gehlot was seen as the first choice of the Gandhis for the top post until his chances were damaged by the rebellion of his loyalists, who said they would not accept Sachin Pilot, who had rebelled against him in 2020, as his replacement as Chief Minister.

  9. The Congress says Sonia Gandhi will decide soon whether Mr. Gehlot will remain Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

  10. Mr. Kharge's proposers for the contest include several big names, including former chief ministers Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Digvijaya Singh, and Prithviraj Chavan; former defence minister AK Antony; spokesperson AM Singhvi; and former Union minister Ajay Maken, among others.

Author : Rajdhani Delhi Representative

Rajdhani delhi representative

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