Congress President Elections LIVE: Kharge, Tharoor, KN Tripathi in race to lead the party

Congress President Election Crisis

Tharoor apologises for distorted map of India in manifesto

Re the troll storm on a manifesto map: No one does such things on purpose. A small team of volunteers made a mistake. We rectified it immediately &I apologise unconditionally for the error. Here’s the manifesto:
English: https://t.co/aKPpji9Z8M
Hindi: https://t.co/7tnkY9kTiO

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 30, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

Kharge, a Gandhi family loyalist poised to be 2nd Congress president from Karnataka

Popularly known as “Solillada Saradara” (a leader without defeat) in his home-State of Karnataka Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge, who on Friday filed nomination for the Congress’ presidential polls, is a hardcore loyalist of the Gandhi family.

If elected, he will be the second AICC president from Karnataka after S Nijalingappa, and also a Dalit leader to hold the post after Jagjivan Ram.

A leader with more than 50 years of experience in politics, 80-year-old  Kharge, who was elected MLA for nine times in a row, has seen a steady rise in his career graph from humble beginnings as a union leader in his home-district of Gulbarga, now Kalaburagi. (PTI)

Congress President Election Crisis

We will announce final candidates’ names after scrutinising nomination papers, says Madhusudan Mistry

Congress’ Central Election Authority Chariman Madhusudan Mistry on Friday said that 14 forms were submitted by senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge, while Shashi Tharoor submitted five and KN Tripathi gave one form, while filing their nomination papers for the upcoming Congress presidential polls. “Tomorrow, we’ll scrutinise forms and tomorrow evening we’ll announce forms that are valid&names of candidates,”  Mistry said. (ANI)

Congress President Election Crisis

Congress  presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor’s office makes correction to their manifesto  

Congress presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor’s office makes correction to their manifesto for the election which earlier showed a distorted map of India. Parts of J&K, Ladakh were omitted in the earlier version.

Congress presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor's office makes correction to their manifesto for the election which earlier showed a distorted map of India. Parts of J&K, Ladakh were omitted in the earlier version pic.twitter.com/aI8zoXqMrY

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

After nomination, Tharoor calls for ‘decentralization’ in Congress

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who filed his nomination for the party president post on Friday, issued a manifesto explaining how he intends to rejuvenate the party through decentralisation and internal reorganisation if he wins the election.

Tharoor filed his nomination at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office in the national capital. Before that, he visited the Raj Ghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. (ANI)

Congress President Election Crisis

Kharge, Tharoor, Tripathi in fray for Congress Presidential poll

Mallikarjun Kharge, Shashi Tharoor and K N Tripathi are the three men in the Congress presidential race for which nominations end on Friday with the veteran Kharge from Karnataka emerging a clear favourite.

The 80-year-old Kharge, flanked by top Congress leaders, filed several sets of nomination papers with the proposers also including members from the G-23 ginger group comprising Anand Sharma, Prithviraj Chavan, Manish Tewari and Bhupinder Hooda.

Tharoor, who was also part of the G-23 group, filed five sets of nomination papers, while former Jharkhand minister Tripathi filed a single set of poll papers with Madhusudan Mistry, the chairman of the Congress’s Central Election Authority.

Kharge appeared to be a clear favourite for the Congress presidential election as a galaxy of leaders were present by his side when he filed his nomination papers at the AICC headquarters here.

PTI

Congress President Election Crisis

Why Shashi Tharoor doesn’t stand a chance of winning against Mallikarjun Kharge in Congress race

Shashi Tharoor filed his nomination papers for the post of Congress president and will go up against veteran Mallikarjun Kharge, who has the support of the party high command. It doesn’t help that the Thiruvananthapuram MP is part of the dissenting G-23 group

Congress President Election Crisis

BJP takes potshots at Kharge’s candidature, says he will be ‘remote-controlled’, ‘proxy’

The BJP on Friday took a swipe at the Congress after senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge emerged as the favourite to win the poll for party president, suggesting that he will be a “proxy” and “remote-controlled”.

“Mallikarjun Kharge at 80 is an inspiring choice for the Congress. He is young, energetic and just what the Congress needed to ensure its revival. He should just pick Dr Manmohan Singh’s manual on ‘Living by the Remote Control’ and it is all sorted,” BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said in a tweet.

Shashi Tharoor continues to hang in, he added, referring to the Congress MP, who has also filed his nomination for the Congress president post.

Most senior Congress leaders, however, rally around Kharge, who is seen to have the backing of the Gandhis even though they have conveyed that they will remain neutral in the election.

PTI

Congress President Election Crisis

‘Kharge is Congress’ Bhishma Pitamah,’ says Tharoor after filing nomination for party chief

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday said he will not withdraw his nomination for the party president after Mallikarjun Kharge entered the contest for the chief of the party.

“Those who would like to continue the status quo would not be inclined to vote for me because I represent change, a different approach, and a vision to take the party forward in a different way, as for some years we’ve been suffering setbacks,” Tharoor said while addressing the media after filing his nomination at the AICC office in the national capital.

He further called Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha who also filed his nomination today as the “Bhishma Pitamah” of Congress and said he would not say anything negative about Kharge and other party leaders like Digvijaya Singh.

ANI

Congress President Election Crisis

G-23 group leader Manish Tewari extends support to Kharge in Congress presidential polls

Congress leader Manish Tewari, who is a part of the G-23 grouping, on Friday extended support to Mallikarjun Kharge in the party’s presidential polls against his primary challenger Shashi Tharoor.

“Mallikarjun Kharge is a senior leader of the Congress party. I and Anand Sharma have come to support his nomination here,” said Tewari, after reaching the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office in the national capital.

Both Tewari and Tharoor belong to the G-23 grouping of senior leaders within the party. Reports had suggested Tewari was himself thinking of contesting.

ANI

Congress President Election Crisis

Sachin Pilot’s supporters raise slogans outside AICC office as Ashok Gehlot arrives

Amid a protracted crisis in the Congress, the supporters of Sachin Pilot gathered at the AICC office in the national capital Friday and demanded that he be elected as the party president or be made the chief minister of Rajasthan.

As soon as Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot arrived at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office, the supporters began raising slogans in favour of Pilot.

“We want to see Sachin Pilot as the chief minister of Rajasthan or as the national president of Congress,” said a supporter of Pilot.

Congress President Election Crisis

Congress should stand for change, not surprised establishment backing Kharge: Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday asserted that he has a vision to strengthen the party which should be a vehicle for “change” as he filed his nomination for the party president poll.

Addressing a press conference after filing his papers, the former Union minister called his rival Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also contesting and is being seen as the favourite to win, ‘Bhishma Pitamah’ of the Congress.

“It is a friendly contest that is going to happen. We are not enemies or rivals. No disrespect to him but I will represent my ideas,” the articulate and savvy Kerala MP told reporters.

Tharoor called Kharge, 80, a “candidate of continuity”, an apparent reference to the impression that the Karnataka leader is the choice of the Gandhis.

PTI

Congress President Election Crisis

Former Jharkhand minister K N Tripathi files nomination for Congress presidential poll

Former Jharkhand minister K N Tripathi on Friday submitted his nomination papers for the Congress president election.

Tripathi handed over the nomination papers to Madhusudan Mistry, chairman of the Congress’ Central Election Authority, at the AICC headquarters here.

Besides Tripathi, former Union minister Shashi Tharoor has filed his nomination papers for the election of the Congress president.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge is also scheduled to file his nomination.

Tripathi served as the national president of the Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (Tripathi faction).

PTI

Congress President Election Crisis

All senior leaders decided to support Kharge’s candidature, says Ashok Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said all senior leaders had decided to back veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge’s candidature for the party chief’s election.

Gehlot, who declared on Thursday that he would not contest the election, also announced his support for Kharge after meeting the senior leader at his 10, Rajaji Marg residence here.

“All senior leaders have together decided on Kharge’s candidature,” Gehlot told reporters outside Kharge’s residence.

Congress President Election Crisis

‘Vision for Congress’, says Shashi Tharoor, after filing nomination

Senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor, after filing nomination for Congress President post says, “I’ve a vision for Congress which I’ll be sending to all delegates, we’re going to seek their support… I’m here to be the voice of all party workers.”

#CongressPresidentElection | Sr Congress leader & MP Shashi Tharoor, after filing nomination for #CongressPresident post says, "I've a vision for Congress which I'll be sending to all delegates, we're going to seek their support... I'm here to be the voice of all party workers" pic.twitter.com/b33Y24ieWF

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

Deepender Hooda signs as Kharge’s proposer

I welcome Mallikarjun Kharge's nomination for Congress president post, confident that he will elected. Over the years, he has raised the voice of the people in Parliament. I've signed his nomination papers as a proposer: Congress MP Deepender S Hooda pic.twitter.com/sZWFVEfkXO

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

Sachin Pilot should be Congress president: Supporters gather at AICC HQ in Delhi

Supporters of Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Friday gathered at AICC headquaters in Delhi.

Supporters of Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot gather at AICC in Delhi

Pilot knows about problems at the ground level and what the party workers go through. We demand such a leader should be made the party president, says a Pilot supporter. pic.twitter.com/Fqd4yXAipw

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

Ashok Gehlot to propose Mallikarjun Kharge for president poll

Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Friday said that he will propose Mallikarjun Kharge for the upcoming president poll.

Our senior leaders together have taken the decision regarding Kharge ji's nomination (for Congress president post), I will be a proposer for him: Congress leader & Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot in Delhi pic.twitter.com/GQ9KMjNjaJ

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

KN Tripathi to contest Congress president election

Jharkhand Congress leader KN Tripathi on Friday said that he will contest the party president election and file his nomination at 1 pm today.

I'll file my nomination at 1pm today (for Congress President post). Rahul Gandhi & party chief Sonia Gandhi have said that they're neither requesting anyone to contest nor declining anyone it...we want to see what the rank&file of the party want: Jharkhand Cong leader KN Tripathi pic.twitter.com/gh7QHMvdR3

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

Shashi Tharoor to file nomination at 12:15pm, address media at 1pm

Pleased to announce that I will be filing my nomination papers at @INCIndia HQ, 24 Akbar Rd, at 12.15 today & holding a press conference at my residence, 97 Lodhi Estate, at 1 pm. These will both be live on my social media handles.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 30, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

Digvijaya Singh pulls out; it’s now Shashi Tharoor vs Mallikarjuna Kharge

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday withdrew from the race for the Congress president election and said that he will propose the name of Mallikarjuna Kharge for the party’s top post, narrowing down the contest to two contenders Kaharge and Shashi Tharoor.

Congress President Election Crisis

Digvijay Singh no more in race, declares to propose Mallikarjuna Kharge’s name

Digvijaya Singh, who had planned to file the nomination, has now dropped out of the Congress presidential election race after meeting Mallikarjun Kharge.

He said that he has worked for Congress all of his life and will continue to do so.

He also asked not to compromise on three things: The fight for Dalit Adivasi rights, The fight against communal forces, Loyalty to Congress.

He said, “I had yesterday asked Kharge ji if he wanted to contest, he said he was undecided. Today I went to his residence and asked again after coming to know from media that he will contest. I told him that he is senior leader and I can’t even think of contesting against you. So, now I will be proposing the name of Mallikarjuna Kharge for president post.”

Congress President Election Crisis

Shashi Tharoor pays tribute to former PM Rajiv Gandhi before filing nomination

Paid tribute to the man who built India’s bridge to the 21st century this morning.

“India is an Old country but a young nation… I dream of India Strong, Independent, Self-Reliant and in the front rank of the nations of the world, in the service of mankind.”

~ Rajiv Gandhi pic.twitter.com/DQtWU3aDdr

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 30, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

On last day of filing nominations, BJP hits out at Congress nominees for party chief, cites ‘Hindu terror’ theory

Amid the high drama surrounding the Congress organizational polls and the various twists and turns the potential nominees have taken, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday took a swipe at the opposition saying that it seems hatred for Hindu is a pre-requisite for contesting the election to the Congress chief’s post.

Congress President Election Crisis

Is Mallikarjun Kharge the ‘official’ Congress candidate for the presidential election?

It’s the last day to file the nomination for the Congress presidential election and it’s still unclear who the final contenders are. The latest name doing the rounds is that of senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge.

After Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot announced that he will not contest the polls, Kharge, the leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, emerged as the frontrunner and possible “official candidate”, the one who has the backing of the party high command.

The 80-year-old is likely to file his nomination for the October 17 election today.

Congress President Election Crisis

Digvijaya Singh meets Kharge, Venugopal

Ahead of filing his nomination for the Congress presidential poll, party leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday met his colleagues Mallikarjun Kharge and K C Venugopal.

The details of the meetings were not known immediately.

Singh collected nomination papers for the party president election on Thursday, even as Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot opted out of the race.

Kharge is also likely to enter the contest with the blessing of the Gandhi family.

PTI

Congress President Election Crisis

Shashi Tharoor, Digvijaya Singh to file nominations

Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Digvijaya Singh will file their nominations for the upcoming party president election on Friday, the last day of the process.

A tent has been set up in the lawns of the AICC headquarters here and party leaders can file their nomination papers between 11 am and 3 pm.

Singh met Tharoor on Thursday and the latter said they agreed that theirs is “not a battle between rivals but a friendly contest” among colleagues.

Senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge is also likely to enter the contest with the blessing of the Gandhi family. He is likely to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi soon.

PTI

Congress President Election Crisis

The more candidates, the better, says Congress MP Shashi Tharoor

I only see speculation (of LoP Mallikarjun Kharge contesting for post of Congress President). He's also a very respected colleague, we worked together in Lok Sabha. It'll be a good thing to have more people in the frame. The more candidates, the better: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor pic.twitter.com/ycDfhkM7YU

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

Mallikarjun Kharge to file nomination for the Congress presidential election

Congress veteran Mallikarjun Kharge will join the contest for Congress president, according to sources who have said that the Leader of Opposition in the Raja Sabha is likely to file his nomination for the party’s top post today.

The contest for the post will then be likely to be between Kharge, Digvijaya Singh and Shashi Tharoor, they said.

ANI

Congress President Election Crisis

Digvijaya Singh confirms Cong president poll bid, to file nomination today

Veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday confirmed his entry to the race for party chief post days after Rajasthan witnessed a high-voltage drama over the candidature of chief minister Ashok Gehlot.

Congress President Election Crisis

Congress president election: G23 meet sparks possibility of third candidate

With the process of the Congress president election gathering pace ahead of the last day of filing nominations, some G-23 leaders held a meeting on Thursday evening at the residence of Anand Sharma.

The meeting was attended by former Union minister Manish Tewari, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

According to sources, the leaders discussed the whole situation emerging in the run-up to the Congress presidential polls. The leaders will meet again.

Congress President Election Crisis

Will form govt in Rajasthan again next year, says Pilot after meeting Sonia Gandhi

Whatever decision has to be made in the context of Rajasthan, will be taken by her...I am confident that in the next 12-13 months we will once again make a Congress Govt through our hard work: Sachin Pilot after meeting Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, in Delhi pic.twitter.com/Vc7EW5XJrj

— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

Congress G23 camp leaders meet at Anand Sharma’s residence

Delhi | Congress G23 camp leaders including Manish Tewari, Prithviraj Chavan, BS Hooda are currently meeting at party leader Anand Sharma's residence

— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

You and I have the same curiosity that who’ll file nominations and who’ll withdraw their nominations after scrutiny, says Bhupesh Baghel 

Tomorrow is the last day of filing nominations. Let's see how many people file it. You & I have the same curiosity that who'll file nominations & who'll withdraw their nominations after scrutiny: Chhattisgarh CM on Digvijaya Singh to file nomination for Congress presidential poll pic.twitter.com/Ipj3S3ABE8

— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) September 29, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

‘The Nehru-Gandhi family will remain our leader. Whoever becomes the party president will work under their leadership’, says Digvijaya Singh

The Nehru-Gandhi family will remain our leader. Whoever becomes the party president will work under their leadership...Our priority is to see how the situation in the country improves, won't let the country divide or the constitution weaken: Digvijaya Singh, Congress MP

— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

Rajasthan Congress MLA Sachin Pilot arrives at 10 Janpath

Delhi | Rajasthan Congress MLA Sachin Pilot arrives at 10 Janpath, the residence of the party's interim chief Sonia Gandhi. pic.twitter.com/WU7bP8txgl

— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

Congress advises representatives to ‘refrain from making public statements against any leader or about party’s internal matters’

#RajasthanPoliticalCrisis | Congress advises all leaders of the party to "refrain from making public statements against any other leaders or about Party's internal matters." The party also warns of "strict disciplinary action" if any violation of this advisory is made. pic.twitter.com/3lejUCcufO

— ANI (@ANI) September 29, 2022

Congress President Election Crisis

Pawan Bansal likely to be the choice of Gandhi family

Congress Presidential Election Crisis

Sonia Gandhi to take a decision on Rajasthan CM in next 2 days: Venugopal

Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal said that the decision on the next CM of the state would be taken by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in a day or two, PTI reported.