Mallikarjun Kharge scored 7,897 votes while Shashi Tharoor finished with 1,072.
Veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge has been elected the new chief of the Congress party. He is the first non-Gandhi chief of the Congress in more than 20 years.
Mr Kharge, widely seen to be the "Gandhi-approved" candidate, won 90 per cent of the votes cast on Monday. He scored 7,897 votes while Shashi Tharoor finished with 1,072.
The election comes three years after Sonia Gandhi agreed to temporarily lead the party when Rahul Gandhi stepped down, taking responsibility for the two consecutive routs of the party in 2014 and 2019 general elections.
Here are the Highlights on Congress Presidential Elections Poll
"We Will Work Together, Have To Fight Fascist Forces": Mallikarjun Kharge
Mallikarjun Kharge, the first non-Gandhi president of the Congress in over 20 years, said today that he would "try my best to stand my ground". Speaking to reporters after the declaration of results, Mr Kharge also said he would work together with Shashi Tharoor, who was his opponent in the party's internal elections held on Monday. "We have to work as karyakartas. We have to fight fascist forces which are attacking democratic institutions," he said.
PM Congratulates M Kharge On Being Elected Congress Chief
"My best wishes to Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji for his new responsibility as President of @INCIndia. May he have a fruitful tenure ahead," tweeted PM Modi.
Should M Kharge Visit Sonia Gandhi, Or...? Congress' Quick Change Of PlansMallikarjun Kharge's first instinct after being declared the next Congress president was to visit Sonia Gandhi at her 10, Janpath home. He requested an appointment but did not get one. Sources say after some discussions, Sonia Gandhi decided that given the occasion, it really should be the other way round. So, from 10 Janpath, the meeting shifted to 10 Rajaji Marg, Mr Kharge's home. Read
here What Shashi Tharoor Said After Losing Congress President Polls
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who lost the Congress presidential election, praised the winning candidate, Mallikarjun Kharge, saying he felt that the revival of the party "has truly begun today". He said the new party President is a colleague and senior "who brings ample leadership and experience to the table".
Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi met Mallikarjun Kharge at his home in Delhi and congratulated him on being elected the new party president
Shashi Tharoor meets new party chief Mallikarjun Kharge
Mallikarjun Kharge, Staunch Gandhi Family Loyalist, Is New Congress Chief
Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge, a staunch Gandhi family loyalist from Karnataka, has become the Congress' first non-Gandhi president in 24 years.
The 80-year-old leader succeeds Sonia Gandhi at the grand old party's highest office.
Read More Celebrations outside the residence of Mallikarjun Kharge
Shashi Tharoor congratulates the new Congress chief, Mallikarjun Kharge
Mallikarjun Kharge gets 7,897 votes, becomes new President of the Congress Party. Shashi Tharoor got 1072, concedes defeat.
Mallikarjun Kharge named new Congress chief
Posters put up outside Mallikarjun Kharge's residence
Poll Violations In UP "At Different Level": 5 Big Quotes From Team Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday levelled allegations of "extremely serious irregularities" in the conduct of the Congress presidential elections held in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.
Historic moment, says Assam MP Gaurav Gogoi
We're proud that we held poll in such a democratic manner. We also feel gratitude towards Sonia Gandhi who took charge of the party during a difficult time. In time to come, Congress will further strengthen: Gaurav Gogoi, counting agent of Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress Presidential Poll Saw 96% Turnout on Tuesday
More than 9,500 Congress delegates across the country on Monday voted to elect the party's first non-Gandhi president in 24 years, choosing between senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor as successor to Sonia Gandhi.
Of the total 9,915 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates that form the electoral college to pick the party chief in a secret ballot, over 9,500 cast their ballot at all PCC offices and the AICC headquarters in Delhi, party's central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry announced in New Delhi.
Counting of votes underway
The counting started at 10 am at the Congress headquarters in Delhi, where sealed ballot boxes have been brought from across the country. Around 96 per cent of the 9,915 eligible leaders had voted in the election held on Monday, the Congress had said.
Congress Central Election Authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry arrives at the party HQ in Delhi. Counting of votes for the party's presidential election will begin shortly.
Congress To Get New Non Gandhi Chief In 24 Years, 6th In 137-Year History
The Congress will get its first non-Gandhi president in 24 years on Wednesday after more than 9,500 votes cast to choose between senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor are counted to cap the election contest, the sixth in its 137-year-old history.
While Mr Kharge is considered the firm favourite with his perceived proximity to the Gandhis and a large number of senior leaders backing him, Mr Tharoor has pitched himself as the candidate of change.
Congress To Get First Non-Gandhi Chief In 24 Years Today
The first non-Gandhi chief of the Congress in more than 20 years will be named today as the counting of votes for the party's internal election takes place. Veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge, seen as a favourite, is facing Shashi Tharoor.
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