Congress Election Result LIVE: Sonia Gandhi Meets New President Kharge in Delhi
Mallikarjun Kharge swept the election with 7,897 votes, while Shashi Tharoor won 1,072 votes.
Outgoing president Sonia Gandhi arrived at the residence of Congress party president-elect Mallikarjun Kharge.
(Photo: Indian Youth Congress)
Congress President Election Results 2022 Live Updates: Mallikarjun Kharge won the election for the new Congress party president, receiving 7,897 votes, while Shashi Tharoor won 1,072 votes.
Ahead of the declaration of the results, Tharoor's team had alleged irregularities in the counting process and raise the issue with the poll body, reports said.
Scores of party leaders across the country, including interim president Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, former party president Rahul Gandhi, party leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Kamal Nath, Ashok Gehlot, and Ajay Maken cast their ballots on Monday.
While Tharoor on Monday said that "the revival of Congress has begun," his rival Kharge had asserted that the contest was an internal matter.
Tharoor and Kharge after the latter's win the presidential election.
Tharoor and Kharge after the latter's win the presidential election.
Tharoor and Kharge after the latter's win the presidential election.
Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.
Sonia Gandhi meeting Radhabai Kharge.
Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi met Mallikarjun Kharge and his wife Radhabai Kharge.
Kharge, with almost 8000 votes, won the election against Tharoor
Outgoing Sonia Gandhi met Kharge at his residence
Rahul Gandhi also congratulated Kharge, mentioning his "vast experience and ideological commitment"
Over 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates cast their votes in the election
The last non-Gandhi president of the party was Sitaram Kesri, from 1996-1998
Kharge to Officially Take Over From 26 October
MP Randeep Surjewala stated that Congress President-elect Mallikarjun Kharge will officially take charge on 26 October.
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot Praises Gehlot
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot called Kharge an experienced leader after the latter's election victory.
"It's a moment of pride that Mallikarjun Kharge became Congress President, he is an experienced leader. Congress will strengthen under his leadership, and our party is united across the country," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Rahul Gandhi Congratulates Kharge
Former Congress party president Rahul Gandhi tweeted his congratulations to Mallikarjun Kharge, writing that "the Congress President represents a democratic vision of India."
"His vast experience and ideological commitment will serve the party well as he takes on this historic responsibility," he added.
Sonia Gandhi Meets Kharge
Outgoing president Sonia Gandhi arrived at the residence of Congress party president-elect Mallikarjun Kharge.
Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi meet Mallikarjun Kharge and his wife Radhabai Kharge.
Sonia Gandhi meets Radhabai Kharge.
Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.
Kharge to Hold Press Conference
Election winner Mallikarjun Kharge said that he will hold a press conference around 4pm today.
Madhusudan Mistry Issues Clarification on Tharoor's Claims
Responding to team Tharoor's allegations about irregularities, Congress Central Election Authority Chairman Madhusudan Mistry clarified that "UP had 6 ballot boxes, of which 4 didn't have any issues. We got the seals of all ballot boxes checked by him (Shashi Tharoor) this morning. He stated, 2 ballot boxes did not have the embossed ballot box numbers."
Kharge's Supporters Start Celebrations
Supporters of Mallikarjun Kharge celebrated outside the AICC headquarters after the veteran Congress leader won the presidential election.
Kharge supporters celebrating.
Sachin Pilot Congratulates Kharge
Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said that "Mallikarjun Kharge won with a huge majority; a win of democracy."
"I congratulated him. I've faith his experience will benefit the party...9000 elected people elected the President,this was never done before by any party.Oppn must be nervous today," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
Tharoor Meets Kharge
Shashi tharoor met Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence after the election results were declared.
Madhusudan Mistry Addresses Media
Addressing the media, Congress Central Election Authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry: "Total counted votes were 9,385, of which Mallikarjun Kharge received 7,897 votes and Dr Shashi Tharoor received 1,072 votes. Invalid votes were 416," he said.
"I hereby declare Mallikarjun Kharge as the elected President of Congress,"
'Wish Kharge ji All the Success', Writes Tharoor
In his statement accepting defeat, Shashi Tharoor conveyed his "warm congratulations" to his rival Mallikarjun Kharge, writing that "it is a privilege to be a member of a party that allows its workers to choose their President."
"It is a great honour & a huge responsibility to be President of @INCIndia & I wish @Kharge ji all success in that task. It was a privilege to have received the support of over a thousand colleagues,& to carry the hopes& aspirations of so many well-wishers of Congress across India," he tweeted.
Kharge Defeats Tharoor
Mallikarjun Kharge won the election for the new Congress party president, receiving 7,897 votes, while Shashi Tharoor won 1,072 votes.
The declaration of the result.
'For Mr Kharge to Comment on', Says Rahul on his Role Under New Leader
When asked what his role will be under the new Congress president, Rahul Gandhi, in what was likely to a slip of tongue, said, "I can't comment on the Congress president's role, that is for Mr Kharge to comment on."
Rahul Gandhi Hails Congress Elections
At a press conference, former Congress party president Rahul Gandhi stated that his party is the only one that holds elections, that has an election commission inside it.
He added that the Congress president is the supreme authority in the party and every member reports to that person.
Who are the Counting Agents?
Both Kharge and Tharoor have their counting agents, who are counting the votes.
For the former, the agents are Pramod Tiwari, Kodikunil Suresh, Gaurav Gogoi, Syed Nasir Hussain, Kuljit Singh Bagra and Gurdeep Singh Sappal, according to PTI.
On the other hand, Karti Chidambaram, Atul Chaturvedi and Sumedh Gaikwal are the counting agents for Tharoor.
'Historic Moment', Says Kharge's Election Agent
Gaurav Gogoi, the election agent of Mallikarjun Kharge, told news agency ANI that the election is a historic moment.
"It's a historic moment. 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."
Highlights of Team Tharoor's Letter
Here are the highlights of Tharoor's team's letter to the poll body:
Our campaign wants to bring to your attention extremely serious irregularities in the conduct of the election in the state of Uttar Pradesh. As you will see, the facts are damning and the election process in UP is devoid of credibility and integrity.
The letter said: "At the end of Polling, the Ballot Box will be sealed by the Polling Officer in presence of the Polling Agent of the candidates with the seal provided by CEA and Polling Agents will put their signature on the box. The Ballot Box once closed and sealed shall not be opened, in any case. Nothing like this happened in Uttar Pradesh."
The team further alleged that on 17 October, Shri Pranav Jha (AICC Secretary), who was in Lucknow, indicated that only the unofficial plastic seals were received from the central office. "We find it hard to believe that your office, which has tried under very difficult circumstances to organize this election, would somehow send the wrong white seals to only one state. We believe you sent the correct seals to all states and union territories."
The letter further said that there were three extra people present in the polling booth in Uttar Pradesh on 17 October, one of whom was Omveer Yadav, a proposer of Shri Mallikarjun Kharge. "Without the consent of a candidate, how can persons beyond PROS, APROS, and DROs and official polling agents be allowed to be inside a polling booth? We don't have to tell you what they were doing in the polling booth. They were certainly not there to promote the candidacy of our candidate."
Team Tharoor's Letter Alleges Electoral Malpractice in UP
In his letter to Madhusudan Mistry, election agent for Tharoor wrote that while "polling across the country happened peacefully and reasonably fairly", what "we have witnessed in Uttar Pradesh is at a completely different level and it is an open challenge to the authority of your office as well as contempt for the orders of the Hon'ble Congress President and the Congress Working Committee to hold free and fair elections."
The letter also adds that Tharoor's team has no evidence of Mallikarjun Kharge ji being aware of "how his supporters were engaging in electoral malpractice in Uttar Pradesh. We are certain that if he were aware, he would never allow what happened in Uttar Pradesh. He would not allow the tainting of an election that is so important for the Indian National Congress."
(1/4) Team Tharoor's letter to the Congress party's poll body.
(2/4) Team Tharoor's letter to the Congress party's poll body.
(3/4) Team Tharoor's letter to the Congress party's poll body.
(4/4) Team Tharoor's letter to the Congress party's poll body.
Team Tharoor Alleges Irregularities in Election
Writing to the Congress party's poll body, Shashi Tharoor's team has alleged that there have been irregularities in the presidential election, NDTV reported.
"We have been in constant communication with Madhusudan Mistry's office, informed them about many different issues, cannot get into its specifics right now" Salman Soz, election agent for Tharoor told news agency ANI.
Shashi Tharoor Says Big 'Thank You'
Thanking all those who organised the election, Shashi Tharoor tweeted, "a big 'thank you' from me to who all who contributed to making this historic event a landmark in the evolution of our politics."
Analysis: Kharge, Tharoor, and the Party's 4 Hits & 3 Misses
"The tone and tenor of the presidential election on one hand and the energy of the Bharat Jodo Yatra on the other bode well for the cause of unity in the party, especially after a recent spate of exits including senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad," writes Aditya Menon for The Quint.
Read the full piece here.
96% Voter Turnout
The election attracted a massive turnout of voters on Monday, as almost 96 per cent of Pradesh Congress Committee delegates casted ballots to elect their new leader.
Counting of Votes Begins
The counting of votes begins to elect the new Congress president.
Kharge Arrives at AICC Headquarters
Congress Central Election Authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry, counting agent Gaurav Gogoi, and candidate Mallikarjun Kharge arrive at the Congress headquarters in Delhi.
Recap: Kharge's Strengths and Weaknesses
The 80-year-old veteran politician from Karnataka holds the record of a whopping eleven election victories 9 times to the Karnataka Assembly and twice to the Lok Sabha. His other strength is his identity. As a Dalit politician, who comes from a humble background, Kharge's elevation to the post of Congress president will help the party prove, at least symbolically, that it wants to further the interests of marginalised communities.
On the other hand, his age and his election might rekindle the ‘old guard’ vs ‘new guard’ debate within the Congress, something that has recently created tensions within the top leadership and the cadre.
You can read more about this here.
Recap: Tharoor's Strengths and Weaknesses
The Thiruvananthapuram MP is one of the most prominent faces of the Congress party, at least in the media and on social media. He also has a massive Twitter following.
He entered politics at the age of 53, with a resounding victory in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. Presently, at the age of 66, he is likely to bring forth new ideas and styles of functioning, something that the party desperately needs for its revival.
Counting of Votes to Begin at 10 am
The counting of votes will start from 10 am at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi.
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