New Delhi: Over 9000 Congress leaders voted today to usher in a non-Gandhi as the party chief in more than 20 years. With veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge seen as the favourite, his opponent Shashi Tharoor said he was "confident" despite the odds.
The Congress will elect a non-Gandhi president after 22 years in today's presidential election.
The elections are being held three years after Rahul Gandhi stepped down from the top post after the second straight election defeat of the Congress in 2019. The 52-year-old, who is currently leading the party's "Bharat Jodo" yatra, has firmly refused to return as president despite unrelenting pressure from a section of leaders.
Sonia Gandhi, who had taken a step back from party responsibilities, was persuaded to make a comeback as its interim chief in August 2019.
Here are the Highlights on the Congress presidential election:
Oct 17, 2022 17:58 (IST)
"New Chief Must Listen To Gandhis' Views": P Chidambaram
The election of a new Congress president will not diminish the voice of the Gandhis, veteran leader P Chidambaram said today as the party voted to pick a non-Gandhi chief, the first in decades. "No one is saying the voice of the Gandhis will diminish. The new president must listen to their views in the Congress Working Committee (CWC), parliamentary board and party forums," Mr Chidambaram told NDTV.
Oct 17, 2022 17:29 (IST)
Will New Congress Chief Be Remote-Controlled By Gandhis? Jairam Ramesh Answers
"Absolutely not. Rahul rejected the same in Karnataka while answering this question. These are all used by critics of the Congress party. Two competent individuals are competing and 9,000 delegates will make their choice. Process is being monitored. Every effort to keep it free, fair polls. We are only party with independent election authority," said Jairam Ramesh.
Oct 17, 2022 17:24 (IST)
Sonia Gandhi On Congress Polls
Congress's interim chief Sonia Gandhi, who cast her vote in the morning, said, "I have been waiting for a long time for this day". Mrs Gandhi still remains chairperson of the party's parliamentary board and Gaurav Gogoi, the party's deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, has said Rahul Gandhi will remain the "face of the party for 2024 election".
Oct 17, 2022 16:23 (IST)
Mallikarjun Kharge Or Shashi Tharoor? Congress Voting Ends
Over 9000 Congress leaders voted today to usher in a non-Gandhi as the party chief in more than 20 years. With veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge seen as the favourite, his opponent Shashi Tharoor said he was "confident" despite the odds.
Oct 17, 2022 15:57 (IST)
"99% Of Goa Congressmen Will Vote For M Kharge": Goa Ex Chief Minister
Commenting on the polls underway on Monday for the new Congress chief, Congress MP and former Goa chief minister Francisco Sardinha said Shashi Tharoor should have withdrawn from the poll race, to pave the way for Congress veteran Mallikarjun Kharge to get elected unopposed. "Ninety nine per cent of the Congressmen from Goa will vote for Mallikarjun Kharge," he said.
