Digvijaya Singh Is On. Congress President Polls Gets Another Contender

Digvijaya Singh made it official today - he will run for Congress president next month. He is up against Shashi Tharoor in the October 17 election for a new Congress chief, the first in over 20 years without a Gandhi in the top post.

Initially evasive about contesting, Digvijaya Singh picked up 10 nomination forms from the Congress office and declared that he would file his papers tomorrow, the last day for applications.

"I have come to collect nomination papers," Digvijaya Singh told reporters.

Shashi Tharoor has also said he will file his papers tomorrow.

Digvijaya Singh has stepped in at a time there is uncertainty over the "official" candidate for party president.

Ashok Gehlot was seen to be the Gandhis' first choice until his reluctance to hand over the job of Rajasthan Chief Minister became a huge problem for the Congress.

Digvijaya Singh is expected to face Shashi Tharoor, who is also likely to file his papers tomorrow.

The 75-year-old former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh is a longtime loyalist of the Gandhi family, much like Ashok Gehlot.