Bhopal. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is contesting against party veteran Mallikarjun Kharge for the post of party president. The election is to be held on October 17. Tharoor thanked the party’s Madhya Pradesh unit for the warm welcome on Friday. Tharoor, MP from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency, who came to seek support from the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) representatives, expressed dismay over some Congress leaders openly expressing their support for Kharge. Kharge had also visited Bhopal two days ago and appealed to the Congress representatives in Madhya Pradesh to support him by calling himself a candidate for the collective leadership of the party. He expects 100 per cent support from all the delegates.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters, Tharoor reiterated that senior party leaders should not openly support any particular candidate. Responding to questions on this issue, especially on Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s announcement of supporting Kharge, Tharoor said with a smile on his face, I think the election committee of Congress should be informed about this. Cognizance should be taken. Interestingly, Madhya Pradesh unit Congress chief Kamal Nath had also made it clear that he would support Kharge for the party president’s post. Kamal Nath had also mentioned that the representatives would be free to take their own decisions. Tharoor was on Friday given a warm welcome by the state leadership, including former chief minister and state chief Kamal Nath and Leader of Opposition (Assembly) Govind Singh. Tharoor said that I am happy with the welcome I got in Madhya Pradesh. State Congress President Kamal Nath, Leader of Opposition Govind Singh met me.
There are a total of 502 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) representatives from Madhya Pradesh, out of which around 50-55 representatives were present to welcome him at the Congress headquarters. During Kharge’s visit to Bhopal on October 12, around 300-350 delegates were present at the party headquarters to welcome him. A senior Congress functionary said that all PCC representatives will have complete freedom to vote for the candidate they want. This election is to elect a member to the highest office of the party which is a matter of dignity for every Congress worker. A large number of delegates were present during Kharge’s visit to the office, as was the party’s program before his arrival. Meanwhile, Digvijay Singh’s brother Laxman Singh also shared the stage with Tharoor. (IANS)
