Cong President Election Live: Mallikarjun Kharge, Tharoor File Nominations
The deadline to file nominations for the party's top post is 30 September.
Congress president election 2022 Live Updates
(Photo: The Quint)
Congress President Elections Live Updates: Veteran leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor filed their nominations for the Congress party president on Friday, 30 September, the last day for filing nominations.
Digvijay Singh, who was also in the running for the post until Friday morning, backed out of the race after the entry of Kharge.
"I met Kharge ji yesterday to tell that I will not contest if he is planning to, he is my leader. He told me yesterday that he is not willing to. Today, I came to know from the press that he is a contender. So, I met him today morning to convey that if he is contending, I won't," Singh told the media. He said that he will become the proposer for Kharge instead.
Kharge entered the race on Thursday after Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot announced his decision to not contest amid the political turmoil in the state.
Shashi Tharoor visited Raj Ghat ahead of filing nomination on Friday, 30 September.
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh meets party leader Singh, in New Delhi, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot with senior Congress leader KC Venugopal after a meeting with party interim President Sonia Gandhi, at 10 Janpath in New Delhi, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh collects nomination form for the post of party president, at AICC headquarters in New Delhi, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.
Congress leader Mukul Wasnik leaves after meeting Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gahlot at the Jodhpur House, in New Delhi, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal arrives to meet party chief Sonia Gandhi, at 10, Janpath in New Delhi, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.
Former defence minister and Congress leader AK Antony leaves after meeting Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi at her residence, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022.
Mallikarjun Kharge will reportedly step down as Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha in accordance with the 'one person one post' rule
Shashi Tharoor visited Raj Ghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi ahead of filing the nomination
Following Ashok Gehlot's apology, reports suggested the Congress high command would take a decision on his chief ministership
After the Rajasthan CM's meeting with Sonia Gandhi, his arch-rival Sachin pilot met her too
Shashi Tharoor Submitted 5 Forms, Kharge 14
Madhusudan Mistry, Congress' Central Election Authority chairman said that Mallikarjun Kharge submitted 14 forms and Shashi Tharoor submitted five.
"We'll scrutinise the forms and we will announce the status of the forms in terms of their validity by tomorrow evening," he said.
'Appeal to All Supporters to Vote for Me': Kharge After Filing Nomination
After filing his nomination, Mallikarjun Karge said: "I have filed my nomination today. All the leaders, workers, delegates, and state leaders were here and encouraged me. I thank them all. I thank all those who encouraged me and supported me."
"I want to appeal to all the delegates and voters to vote for me and help me win. I want to keep fighting the fight for the Congress party. I have been associated with its ideology since I was a child. As a school student, I would paste messages and posters for the party on walls. The country needs to uphold the values of Nehru and Ambedkar. I remember ho Indira Gandhi had supported the masses when she came to Gulbarga," he added.
Kharge's Nomination is Welcome, Says Tharoor
Reacting to Kharge's nomination, rival Shashi Tharoor said that many candidates are needed for the party's benefit.
"I won't let down workers from around the country who've gone out of their ways to extend their support to me," Tharoor was quoted as saying by ANI.
Saying that the Gandhi family will stay neutral in the contest, the MP from Kerala added that the race is "not to disrespect anyone," and that it's "a friendly contest."
Kharge Files Nomination for Congress President
Mallikarjun Kharge has filed his nomination for the post of Congress president.
Kharge Leaves for AICC Office
Mallikarjun Kharge has left for the AICC office in Delhi to file his nomination for Congress party president.
Jharkhand Congress Leader KN Tripathi Files Nomination
Jharkhand Congress leader KN Tripathi files his nomination for party president, saying that the decision of the party leaders will be respected.
Tharoor Files Nomination
MP Shashi Tharoor files his nomination for the post of Congress party president.
Tharoor Reaches AICC Office
MP Shashi Tharoor arrived at the office of the All India Congress Committee in Delhi to file his nomination for Congress party president.
Gehlot to be Proposer for Kharge
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said that senior leaders of the party have together taken the decision about Mallikarjun Kharge's nomination for the president's post.
"I will be a proposer for him," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
Gehlot Reaches Kharge's Residence
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot arrived at the residence of Mallikarjun Kharge, who is going to file his nomination papers shortly.
Gehlot himself was one of the frontrunners for party president, before backing out earlier this week.
Digvijay Singh Backs Out of Congress Race
Speaking to the media, Digvijay Singh said: "I met Kharge ji yesterday to tell that I will not contest if he is planning to, he is my leader. He told me yesterday that he is not willing to. Today, I came to know from the press that he is a contender. So, I met him today morning to convey that if he is contending, I won't."
'No Direction to Digvijay Singh From Party High Command'
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said that contraray to certain reports, there is no direction being given to Digvijay Singh to back out of the race.
'Paid Tribute to the Man Who...': Tharoor at Raj Ghat
Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor took to Twitter to share pictures from Raj Ghat where he paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
Kharge Will File Nomination: Pramod Tiwari
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari on Friday said his colleague Mallikarjun Kharge will file nomination for the party president's election.
He said that he and PL Punia will be proposers for Kharge's candidature and Digvijaya Singh, who collected nomination papers on Thursday, may not contest. Kharge is likely to file his nomination papers around noon, he said.
Kharge is one of the most experienced persons in the party and he is a Dalit leader too, Tiwari said.
'Fully Prepared to Hold Elections': Election Authority
Congress central election authority chairman M Mistry said that they are fully prepared to hole elections.
"Any person can submit his nomination form between 11am and 3pm today. Digvijaya Singh is expected to submit form around 11.30 am, Tharoor Ji to come at around noon," he said.
What Next for Ashok Gehlot?
It is true that the Rajasthan fiasco - with MLAs failing to turn up for a meeting with central observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken - has left the high command embarrassed.
If Gehlot continues as CM, he would have achieved what he wanted. Is his apology sufficient to restore the high command's authority? Or will he have to resign?
After meeting Sonia Gandhi, Gehlot said, "This is not for me to decide. The Congress president will take this decision".
As of now it seems Gehlot may remain and that the high command may not want to destabilise one of its two state governments.
The report submitted by the Congress observers gives the high command a face saver as it doesn't recommend action against Gehlot and blames mainly three of his supporters - Shanti Dhariwal, Mahesh Joshi and Dharmendra Rathore.
These three leaders could face action.
(Read the full analysis by The Quint's Aditya Menon.)
Amid Reports of Running for Party Prez, Manish Tewari's Cryptic Post
After some reports suggested that he will run for the party president post, Congress leader Manish Tewari took to social media to share a cryptic post.
"Leadership, ideological clarity, narrative and transparent access to resources are pillars of ‘A’ political party. Given recent unfortunate events it’s time to close ranks & strengthen @INCIndia recalling wise words of @CitiznMukherjee and work for a consensus and effective presidency," he tweeted.
'No Rivalry, Same Ideology': Shashi Tharoor
Addressing the media, Shashi Tharoor said that he will file his niomination at noon.
"We all share same ideology and want the party to be strengthened. It is a friendly contest, there's no rivalry," he said.
He further said that Kharge running for the post is just a speculation so far, but the more the people, the better.
Tharoor visited Raj Ghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi ahead of filing the nomination.
Digvijay Singh May Back Out: Reports
Amid marathon meetings with contender Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader KC Venugopal, several reports suggest Digvijay Singh May back out of the race.
Manish Tewari Likely To Join Race: Reports
Manish Tewari is also expected to join the race for Congress President, besides the three others, NDTV reported quoting sources.
Digvajaya Singh Meets Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress MP Digvijaya Singh met party leader Mallikarjun Kharge who will also file his nomination for Congress president post, news agency ANI reported.
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