Tag: Mallikarjun Kharge

  • New Congress president will decide my role: Rahul Gandhi

    By PTI

    ADONI: MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the president was the ‘supreme authority’ in the Congress and whoever got elected to the post would decide on the way forward (for the party).

    Responding to a query during his brief interaction with media during the Bharat Jodo Yatra here, Rahul Gandhi said the new president would decide on “what my role and how I will be deployed.”

    “Obviously”, Rahul replied when asked if he would be reporting to the new president. “President is the supreme authority in the Congress and everyone reports to him. My role – I am very clear Congress president will decide what my role is and how I will be deployed,” he remarked.

    At one point, Rahul said, “It is for Kharge to decide – but later corrected himself to – whoever gets elected, that gentleman will decide.”

    #WATCH| “I can’t comment on Congress President’s role, that’s for Mr Kharge (party’s Presidential candidate) to comment on. The President will decide what my role is…”, says Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, in Andhra PradeshCounting of votes to decide the Congress President underway pic.twitter.com/eRoRBY7QfX
    — ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2022
    ALSO READ | Mallikarjun Kharge elected as Congress’ first non-Gandhi president in over two decades

    Rahul observed that “Kharge and Tharoor are people with experience and understanding. They do not need my advice,” he added.

    Questioned about Shashi Tharoor’s allegation of irregularities in the Congress president election in Uttar Pradesh, Rahul said the party had an institutional framework to deal with it.

    “We are the only party that has an election commission inside it with a TN Seshan-type of person. Mistry is an absolutely fair person. Our EC will take a decision on the irregularities,” he said.

    ADONI: MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the president was the ‘supreme authority’ in the Congress and whoever got elected to the post would decide on the way forward (for the party).

    Responding to a query during his brief interaction with media during the Bharat Jodo Yatra here, Rahul Gandhi said the new president would decide on “what my role and how I will be deployed.”

    “Obviously”, Rahul replied when asked if he would be reporting to the new president. “President is the supreme authority in the Congress and everyone reports to him. My role – I am very clear Congress president will decide what my role is and how I will be deployed,” he remarked.

    At one point, Rahul said, “It is for Kharge to decide – but later corrected himself to – whoever gets elected, that gentleman will decide.”

    #WATCH| “I can’t comment on Congress President’s role, that’s for Mr Kharge (party’s Presidential candidate) to comment on. The President will decide what my role is…”, says Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, in Andhra Pradesh
    Counting of votes to decide the Congress President underway pic.twitter.com/eRoRBY7QfX
    — ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2022
    ALSO READ | Mallikarjun Kharge elected as Congress’ first non-Gandhi president in over two decades

    Rahul observed that “Kharge and Tharoor are people with experience and understanding. They do not need my advice,” he added.

    Questioned about Shashi Tharoor’s allegation of irregularities in the Congress president election in Uttar Pradesh, Rahul said the party had an institutional framework to deal with it.

    “We are the only party that has an election commission inside it with a TN Seshan-type of person. Mistry is an absolutely fair person. Our EC will take a decision on the irregularities,” he said.

  • Mallikarjun Kharge elected as Congress’ first non-Gandhi president in over two decades

    By Online Desk

    The Congress party elected veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge as its first non-Gandhi president in 24 years on Wednesday. Kharge secured 7897 votes while his co-contender Shashi Tharoor got about 1000 votes. 416 votes were rejected out of the 9, 500 votes counted.

    Kharge will replace Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving party president who has been at the helm since 1998, barring the two years between 2017 and 2019 when Rahul Gandhi had taken over.

    Congress central election authority chairman Mistry on Monday expressed satisfaction with the party’s presidential polls process, saying it was “free, fair and transparent”.

    He has also said it was a secret ballot and no one would get to know who voted for whom.

    Of the total 9,915 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates that formed the electoral college to pick the party chief in a secret ballot, over 9,500 cast their ballot at PCC offices and the AICC headquarters, Mistry had said at a press conference after the polling ended on Monday.

    Electors in the Congress presidential polls had been asked to put a tick mark against their candidate in the ballot paper after Tharoor’s team took up with the party’s top poll body the issue of its earlier directive that voters write “1” to reflect their preference. This, the team said, might lead to confusion.

    Ahead of the polling, Kharge had said he would have no shame in taking the advice and support of the Gandhi family in running the party affairs, if he becomes its president.

    Tharoor, on his part, took a veiled dig at some senior leaders supporting Kharge, saying that some colleagues were “indulging in ‘netagiri’ and telling party workers that they know who Sonia Gandhi wants elected”.

    The Congress party elected veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge as its first non-Gandhi president in 24 years on Wednesday. Kharge secured 7897 votes while his co-contender Shashi Tharoor got about 1000 votes. 416 votes were rejected out of the 9, 500 votes counted.

    Kharge will replace Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving party president who has been at the helm since 1998, barring the two years between 2017 and 2019 when Rahul Gandhi had taken over.

    Congress central election authority chairman Mistry on Monday expressed satisfaction with the party’s presidential polls process, saying it was “free, fair and transparent”.

    He has also said it was a secret ballot and no one would get to know who voted for whom.

    Of the total 9,915 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates that formed the electoral college to pick the party chief in a secret ballot, over 9,500 cast their ballot at PCC offices and the AICC headquarters, Mistry had said at a press conference after the polling ended on Monday.

    Electors in the Congress presidential polls had been asked to put a tick mark against their candidate in the ballot paper after Tharoor’s team took up with the party’s top poll body the issue of its earlier directive that voters write “1” to reflect their preference. This, the team said, might lead to confusion.

    Ahead of the polling, Kharge had said he would have no shame in taking the advice and support of the Gandhi family in running the party affairs, if he becomes its president.

    Tharoor, on his part, took a veiled dig at some senior leaders supporting Kharge, saying that some colleagues were “indulging in ‘netagiri’ and telling party workers that they know who Sonia Gandhi wants elected”.

  • Congress presidential polls: About 96 per cent turnout; no adverse incident reported, says Mistry 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: About 9,500 of the total around 9,900 electors cast their votes in the Congress presidential polls, the party’s central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry said on Monday.

    The overall voter turnout was about 96 per cent and in small states, it was nearly 100 per cent, he said at a press conference after voting ended in the Mallikarjun Kharge versus Shashi Tharoor contest.

    By and large the voter turnout in all places was over 90 per cent, Mistry said adding that this was provisional data.

    “The most satisfactory thing for us was that in all states where polling booths were set up, no adverse incident was reported. This is a big achievement…polls were held in an open process in a peaceful manner,” Mistry said.

    “Congress party has shown what internal democracy is and other parties that want to take a lesson from it, can do so,” he said.

    Mistry said no one should have any apprehensions as it is a secret ballot and nobody will get to know who voted for whom.

    ALSO READ | Congress polls HIGHLIGHTS: Voting ends in ‘loyalist’ Kharge vs ‘change seeker’ Tharoor contest

    He said the ballot boxes will arrive by Tuesday evening and before the counting begins, they will be mixed thoroughly.

    Three ballot boxes, two of Delhi state and one of AICC headquarter, have been received, he said.

    Mistry said 87 delegates cast their vote at the party headquarter here.

    Asked about elections to the Congress Working Committee, Mistry said it depends on the next president and the plenary session of the Congress.

    “When the plenary meets, if it decides to have an election of the CWC, there will be elections.  But the president has to take a call on the CWC as well as the CEC (central election committee) but I am not in a position to comment on it today,” he said.

    Kharge is considered the favourite for his perceived proximity to the Gandhis and backing by senior leaders, even as Tharoor has pitched himself as the candidate of change.

    NEW DELHI: About 9,500 of the total around 9,900 electors cast their votes in the Congress presidential polls, the party’s central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry said on Monday.

    The overall voter turnout was about 96 per cent and in small states, it was nearly 100 per cent, he said at a press conference after voting ended in the Mallikarjun Kharge versus Shashi Tharoor contest.

    By and large the voter turnout in all places was over 90 per cent, Mistry said adding that this was provisional data.

    “The most satisfactory thing for us was that in all states where polling booths were set up, no adverse incident was reported. This is a big achievement…polls were held in an open process in a peaceful manner,” Mistry said.

    “Congress party has shown what internal democracy is and other parties that want to take a lesson from it, can do so,” he said.

    Mistry said no one should have any apprehensions as it is a secret ballot and nobody will get to know who voted for whom.

    ALSO READ | Congress polls HIGHLIGHTS: Voting ends in ‘loyalist’ Kharge vs ‘change seeker’ Tharoor contest

    He said the ballot boxes will arrive by Tuesday evening and before the counting begins, they will be mixed thoroughly.

    Three ballot boxes, two of Delhi state and one of AICC headquarter, have been received, he said.

    Mistry said 87 delegates cast their vote at the party headquarter here.

    Asked about elections to the Congress Working Committee, Mistry said it depends on the next president and the plenary session of the Congress.

    “When the plenary meets, if it decides to have an election of the CWC, there will be elections.  But the president has to take a call on the CWC as well as the CEC (central election committee) but I am not in a position to comment on it today,” he said.

    Kharge is considered the favourite for his perceived proximity to the Gandhis and backing by senior leaders, even as Tharoor has pitched himself as the candidate of change.

  • ‘Loyalist’ Kharge? ‘Change seeker’ Tharoor? Congress polls underway to choose non-Gandhi president

    By Express News Service

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The voting for the Congress presidential election has started at the State party headquarters at Indira Bhavan. State Congress working president Kodikunnil Suresh opined that Shashi Tharoor MP should have withdrawn from the presidential poll.

    Indira Bhavan which is the cynosure of all eyes saw a large posse of KPCC office bearers and also those who don’t have voting rights converge at the party headquarters much before the start of the election. The voting began at 9 am. A large queue was formed in front of Indira Bhavan where leaders from across the State came to cast their votes.

    ALSO READ | Gandhi’s Kharge? Independent Tharoor? Congress to elect party chief after two decades 

    The polling agents for Mallikarjun Kharge are MP V K Sreekandan and MP Dean Kuriakose and former  MLAs V S Sivakumar and A A Shukkoor. The polling agents for Tharoor are Mannamoola Rajan, R Sivakumar, Sanal Kumar and Vijayachandran. Prior to the start of the election, Kodikunnil said once the elections are over the party will be united.

    “But Tharoor should have withdrawn from the race. There is no scope of rivalry once the elections are over”, said Kodikunnil.

    ALSO READ: Sixth time in its 137-year-history Congress all set to have internal elections for its president

    P T Ajayamohan, Veliyankode block in Ponnani Assembly constituency in Malappuram and son of former legislator P T Mohanakrishnan was the first KPCC office bearer to cast his vote. State Congress general secretary K A Thulasi whose leg was in a cast was wheeled inside a wheelchair and was accompanied by her husband, V K Sreekandan, Palakkad MP.

    Her leg was fractured during the course of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Kerala Pradesh Returning Officer G Parameswara and Assistant Returning Officer, V K Arivazhagan told reporters that anyone who puts other than a tick mark will be considered as an invalid vote.

    “The voting would conclude at 4 pm. There are two polling booths. The two sealed ballot boxes would be taken to New Delhi on Monday itself”, said Parameswara.

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The voting for the Congress presidential election has started at the State party headquarters at Indira Bhavan. State Congress working president Kodikunnil Suresh opined that Shashi Tharoor MP should have withdrawn from the presidential poll.

    Indira Bhavan which is the cynosure of all eyes saw a large posse of KPCC office bearers and also those who don’t have voting rights converge at the party headquarters much before the start of the election. The voting began at 9 am. A large queue was formed in front of Indira Bhavan where leaders from across the State came to cast their votes.

    ALSO READ | Gandhi’s Kharge? Independent Tharoor? Congress to elect party chief after two decades 

    The polling agents for Mallikarjun Kharge are MP V K Sreekandan and MP Dean Kuriakose and former  MLAs V S Sivakumar and A A Shukkoor. The polling agents for Tharoor are Mannamoola Rajan, R Sivakumar, Sanal Kumar and Vijayachandran. Prior to the start of the election, Kodikunnil said once the elections are over the party will be united.

    “But Tharoor should have withdrawn from the race. There is no scope of rivalry once the elections are over”, said Kodikunnil.

    ALSO READ: Sixth time in its 137-year-history Congress all set to have internal elections for its president

    P T Ajayamohan, Veliyankode block in Ponnani Assembly constituency in Malappuram and son of former legislator P T Mohanakrishnan was the first KPCC office bearer to cast his vote. State Congress general secretary K A Thulasi whose leg was in a cast was wheeled inside a wheelchair and was accompanied by her husband, V K Sreekandan, Palakkad MP.

    Her leg was fractured during the course of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Kerala Pradesh Returning Officer G Parameswara and Assistant Returning Officer, V K Arivazhagan told reporters that anyone who puts other than a tick mark will be considered as an invalid vote.

    “The voting would conclude at 4 pm. There are two polling booths. The two sealed ballot boxes would be taken to New Delhi on Monday itself”, said Parameswara.

  • Kharge vs Tharoor on Monday as Congress set for non-Gandhi prez after 24 years 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor will face-off in an electoral contest on Monday for the post of AICC chief, as the party gets set to have a non-Gandhi president in over 24 years.

    Over 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates form the electoral college to pick the party chief in a secret ballot.

    Voting would also take place at the AICC headquarters here and at over 65 polling booths across the country in an electoral contest which is taking place for the sixth time in the party’s 137-year history.

    While party chief Sonia Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are expected to vote at the AICC headquarters here, Rahul Gandhi will be voting at the Bharat Jodo Yatra campsite in Karnataka’s Sanganakallu in Ballari along with around 40 other Bharat Yatris who are PCC delegates.

    Kharge is considered the firm favourite for his perceived proximity to the Gandhis and backing by senior leaders, even as Tharoor has pitched himself as the candidate of change.

    During the campaign, even though Tharoor has raised issues of uneven playing field, both candidates and the party have maintained that the Gandhis are neutral and that there is no “official candidate”.

    ALSO READ | Sixth time in its 137-year-history Congress all set to have internal elections for its president

    Asked about the significance of the polls, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh told PTI that he has always believed in the Congress model of evolving a consensus for such positions.

    The most famous practitioner of this approach in the post-Nehruvian era was K Kamaraj, he noted.

    “As we approach E-Day tomorrow this belief has become even stronger. The reasons for this are pretty obvious,” Ramesh said without elaborating.

    “I am not at all convinced that organisational elections actually strengthen the organisation in any way. They may serve individual purposes but their value in building a collective spirit is doubtful,” he said.

    Even so, the very fact that elections are taking place is of some significance, he added.

    “But I consider them of less institutional importance than the historic Bharat Jodo Yatra which is a transformational initiative for the Congress and for Indian politics as well,” Ramesh said.

    Though the campaign has been largely about a roadmap for the party which the two candidates have elaborated upon during their meetings with PCC delegates at various headquarters of the party in states, it has also seen complaints and claims of an uneven playing field by the Tharoor camp.

    The contrast in the campaigns has been stark, while Kharge’s campaign has seen several senior leaders, PCC chiefs and top leaders receiving him at the state headquarters visited by him, Tharoor has mostly been welcomed by young PCC delegates with PCC chiefs mostly absent from his events.

    Tharoor has underlined during his campaign that he is the candidate of change while Kharge of status quo.

    He has also claimed that youngsters and people in lower levels of the party are supporting him, while seniors are backing his rival.

    ALSO READ | Congress president poll: Most PCC chiefs backing Kharge, says Tharoor

    Kharge, on his part, has highlighted his experience, coming up the organizational ranks over decades and his ability to take everyone along.

    Both the leaders have emphasised that the Gandhis hold a special place in the party with Kharge saying that he would seek their “guidance” and “suggestions”, and Tharoor asserting that no Congress president can function keeping a distance from the Gandhi family as their DNA runs in the party’s blood.

    The last electoral contest for the top post of the party took place in 2000 when Jitendra Prasada had suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Sonia Gandhi.

    Also, with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra deciding not to be in the running for the party president’s post, a non-Gandhi would be at the helm after over 24 years.

    Congress’ central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry said on Wednesday that the Congress presidential polls will be held by a secret ballot and no one will get to know who voted for whom.

    He had asserted that a level-playing field had been ensured for both candidates.

    Mistry had also demonstrated to reporters the ballot boxes, ballot paper and how the votes would be cast.

    He had said the sealed boxes would be transported to Delhi, kept in a strong room at the AICC headquarters and opened in Delhi.

    The ballot papers would be mixed before counting starts.

    Kharge and Tharoor not only possess contrasting demeanours but have had an equally disparate political journey.

    On the one side, there is 80-year-old Kharge, a grassroots politician and a hardcore loyalist of the Gandhi family and on the other is 66-year-old Tharoor – articulate, erudite and suave – who is known for speaking his mind and joined the Congress in 2009 after a long stint at the United Nations.

    The contrast is not limited to their demeanour and thinking but also their backgrounds — while Kharge was born in a poor family at Varavatti in Bidar district, did his schooling and BA as well as Law in Gulbarga, Tharoor was born in London and has a phenomenal education background.

    Tharoor, who hails from the Nair community of Kerala, has studied at premier institutions in India and the US, including St Stephen’s College in Delhi and Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Massachusetts.

    Tharoor completed his Ph.D.in 1978 from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

    A leader with more than 50 years of experience in politics, Kharge, who was elected MLA for nine times in a row and has been pitched as a Dalit leader by his party colleagues, has seen a steady rise in his career graph from humble beginnings as a union leader in his home-district of Gulbarga, now Kalaburagi.

    The Congress presidential poll will take place on October 17 and the results will be out on October 19.

    NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor will face-off in an electoral contest on Monday for the post of AICC chief, as the party gets set to have a non-Gandhi president in over 24 years.

    Over 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates form the electoral college to pick the party chief in a secret ballot.

    Voting would also take place at the AICC headquarters here and at over 65 polling booths across the country in an electoral contest which is taking place for the sixth time in the party’s 137-year history.

    While party chief Sonia Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are expected to vote at the AICC headquarters here, Rahul Gandhi will be voting at the Bharat Jodo Yatra campsite in Karnataka’s Sanganakallu in Ballari along with around 40 other Bharat Yatris who are PCC delegates.

    Kharge is considered the firm favourite for his perceived proximity to the Gandhis and backing by senior leaders, even as Tharoor has pitched himself as the candidate of change.

    During the campaign, even though Tharoor has raised issues of uneven playing field, both candidates and the party have maintained that the Gandhis are neutral and that there is no “official candidate”.

    ALSO READ | Sixth time in its 137-year-history Congress all set to have internal elections for its president

    Asked about the significance of the polls, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh told PTI that he has always believed in the Congress model of evolving a consensus for such positions.

    The most famous practitioner of this approach in the post-Nehruvian era was K Kamaraj, he noted.

    “As we approach E-Day tomorrow this belief has become even stronger. The reasons for this are pretty obvious,” Ramesh said without elaborating.

    “I am not at all convinced that organisational elections actually strengthen the organisation in any way. They may serve individual purposes but their value in building a collective spirit is doubtful,” he said.

    Even so, the very fact that elections are taking place is of some significance, he added.

    “But I consider them of less institutional importance than the historic Bharat Jodo Yatra which is a transformational initiative for the Congress and for Indian politics as well,” Ramesh said.

    Though the campaign has been largely about a roadmap for the party which the two candidates have elaborated upon during their meetings with PCC delegates at various headquarters of the party in states, it has also seen complaints and claims of an uneven playing field by the Tharoor camp.

    The contrast in the campaigns has been stark, while Kharge’s campaign has seen several senior leaders, PCC chiefs and top leaders receiving him at the state headquarters visited by him, Tharoor has mostly been welcomed by young PCC delegates with PCC chiefs mostly absent from his events.

    Tharoor has underlined during his campaign that he is the candidate of change while Kharge of status quo.

    He has also claimed that youngsters and people in lower levels of the party are supporting him, while seniors are backing his rival.

    ALSO READ | Congress president poll: Most PCC chiefs backing Kharge, says Tharoor

    Kharge, on his part, has highlighted his experience, coming up the organizational ranks over decades and his ability to take everyone along.

    Both the leaders have emphasised that the Gandhis hold a special place in the party with Kharge saying that he would seek their “guidance” and “suggestions”, and Tharoor asserting that no Congress president can function keeping a distance from the Gandhi family as their DNA runs in the party’s blood.

    The last electoral contest for the top post of the party took place in 2000 when Jitendra Prasada had suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Sonia Gandhi.

    Also, with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra deciding not to be in the running for the party president’s post, a non-Gandhi would be at the helm after over 24 years.

    Congress’ central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry said on Wednesday that the Congress presidential polls will be held by a secret ballot and no one will get to know who voted for whom.

    He had asserted that a level-playing field had been ensured for both candidates.

    Mistry had also demonstrated to reporters the ballot boxes, ballot paper and how the votes would be cast.

    He had said the sealed boxes would be transported to Delhi, kept in a strong room at the AICC headquarters and opened in Delhi.

    The ballot papers would be mixed before counting starts.

    Kharge and Tharoor not only possess contrasting demeanours but have had an equally disparate political journey.

    On the one side, there is 80-year-old Kharge, a grassroots politician and a hardcore loyalist of the Gandhi family and on the other is 66-year-old Tharoor – articulate, erudite and suave – who is known for speaking his mind and joined the Congress in 2009 after a long stint at the United Nations.

    The contrast is not limited to their demeanour and thinking but also their backgrounds — while Kharge was born in a poor family at Varavatti in Bidar district, did his schooling and BA as well as Law in Gulbarga, Tharoor was born in London and has a phenomenal education background.

    Tharoor, who hails from the Nair community of Kerala, has studied at premier institutions in India and the US, including St Stephen’s College in Delhi and Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Massachusetts.

    Tharoor completed his Ph.D.in 1978 from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

    A leader with more than 50 years of experience in politics, Kharge, who was elected MLA for nine times in a row and has been pitched as a Dalit leader by his party colleagues, has seen a steady rise in his career graph from humble beginnings as a union leader in his home-district of Gulbarga, now Kalaburagi.

    The Congress presidential poll will take place on October 17 and the results will be out on October 19.

  • Will have no shame in taking advice of Gandhi family: Mallikarjun Kharge

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said he would have no shame in taking the advice and support of the Gandhi family in running the party affairs, in case he becomes its President, as they have struggled and put their strength for its growth.

    The veteran leader said that he is the “delegates’ candidate” in this polls to the party’s highest post, scheduled for October 17.

    “They say such things as there is nothing else to tell. BJP indulges in such a campaign and others follow it. Sonia Gandhi has worked for 20 years in the organisation. Rahul Gandhi was also president. They have struggled for the party and put their strength for its growth,” Kharge said responding to a question about talk that he would be the remote control of the Gandhi family on becoming the AICC President.

    Speaking to reporters here, he highlighted that the Nehru-Gandhi family has contributed immensely and sacrificed for this country from Jawaharlal Nehru to Indira Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi to Sonia Gandhi.

    “Just because we (Congress) lost a few elections, saying such a thing (against Gandhis) is not right. They have done good for this country, their advice will benefit the party, so I will definitely seek their advice and support. There is no shame in it. If something benefits from your (media) advice, I will take it as well. They have worked for this party and taking their advice is my duty,” Kharge said.

    “Further Sonia and Rahul Gandhi know every nook and corner of the country, who is where and who can do what for the party. What has to be done to have unity in the party, I need to learn and I will do it,” he added.

    The Member of Rajya Sabha from Karnataka today met some state Congress leaders and addressed the media, as part of his campaign trail here.

    He is pitted against Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor in the grand old party’s presidential polls for which results will be declared on October 19.

    READ HERE | Sixth time in its 137-year-history Congress all set to have internal elections for its president

    Khage however, did not want to make any direct comments on his opponent in the poll – Tharoor – or his campaign, and merely said that, everyone has the right to speak about their merit, while seeking support, like he has been highlighting about his connection with the party’s grassroots level.

    “I don’t want to get into any controversy, he (Tharoor) is saying his thoughts, I don’t want to debate on his thoughts. I’m sharing my thoughts. It is our organisation or a family matter. He has the right to say what he wants to, similarly I too have. It is an internal friendly fight,” he said, to a question about his message for Tharoor.

    Rebutting talk that it will be a rigged election, with senior leaders and delegates who will vote, openly supporting him, Kharge said, “I’m contacting election delegates, my campaign managers are organising. I’m a candidate of delegates, senior leaders and delegates have sponsored me.”

    He said after the Gandhi family took a stand that none of them would contest for the Congress President post, senior leaders, leaders and delegates from various states, asked him to contest, considering his long service to the party organisation.

    Asked about the Congress in election-bound Karnataka and about the impact of his election as party president, Kharge said, “leaders in the state are fighting with a cause and working hard. I believe in collective leadership, collective consultancy. The Congress in Karnataka is united and will form a government in the state (after the 2023 Assembly polls).”

    BENGALURU: Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said he would have no shame in taking the advice and support of the Gandhi family in running the party affairs, in case he becomes its President, as they have struggled and put their strength for its growth.

    The veteran leader said that he is the “delegates’ candidate” in this polls to the party’s highest post, scheduled for October 17.

    “They say such things as there is nothing else to tell. BJP indulges in such a campaign and others follow it. Sonia Gandhi has worked for 20 years in the organisation. Rahul Gandhi was also president. They have struggled for the party and put their strength for its growth,” Kharge said responding to a question about talk that he would be the remote control of the Gandhi family on becoming the AICC President.

    Speaking to reporters here, he highlighted that the Nehru-Gandhi family has contributed immensely and sacrificed for this country from Jawaharlal Nehru to Indira Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi to Sonia Gandhi.

    “Just because we (Congress) lost a few elections, saying such a thing (against Gandhis) is not right. They have done good for this country, their advice will benefit the party, so I will definitely seek their advice and support. There is no shame in it. If something benefits from your (media) advice, I will take it as well. They have worked for this party and taking their advice is my duty,” Kharge said.

    “Further Sonia and Rahul Gandhi know every nook and corner of the country, who is where and who can do what for the party. What has to be done to have unity in the party, I need to learn and I will do it,” he added.

    The Member of Rajya Sabha from Karnataka today met some state Congress leaders and addressed the media, as part of his campaign trail here.

    He is pitted against Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor in the grand old party’s presidential polls for which results will be declared on October 19.

    READ HERE | Sixth time in its 137-year-history Congress all set to have internal elections for its president

    Khage however, did not want to make any direct comments on his opponent in the poll – Tharoor – or his campaign, and merely said that, everyone has the right to speak about their merit, while seeking support, like he has been highlighting about his connection with the party’s grassroots level.

    “I don’t want to get into any controversy, he (Tharoor) is saying his thoughts, I don’t want to debate on his thoughts. I’m sharing my thoughts. It is our organisation or a family matter. He has the right to say what he wants to, similarly I too have. It is an internal friendly fight,” he said, to a question about his message for Tharoor.

    Rebutting talk that it will be a rigged election, with senior leaders and delegates who will vote, openly supporting him, Kharge said, “I’m contacting election delegates, my campaign managers are organising. I’m a candidate of delegates, senior leaders and delegates have sponsored me.”

    He said after the Gandhi family took a stand that none of them would contest for the Congress President post, senior leaders, leaders and delegates from various states, asked him to contest, considering his long service to the party organisation.

    Asked about the Congress in election-bound Karnataka and about the impact of his election as party president, Kharge said, “leaders in the state are fighting with a cause and working hard. I believe in collective leadership, collective consultancy. The Congress in Karnataka is united and will form a government in the state (after the 2023 Assembly polls).”

  • Will revive CWC elections, parliamentary board if I’m Congress president: Shashi Tharoor

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday asserted that if he becomes the AICC chief, he would fully implement the party’s existing constitution which requires CWC elections and revival of the parliamentary board that has been dormant for a quarter-century.

    In an interview with PTI, Tharoor also said the Congress must decentralise authority and truly empower the grassroots office-bearers of the party.

    The Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram said he would fully implement the Udaipur Declaration which was unanimously agreed at the party’s Chintan Shivir earlier this year.

    Asked about his plans for the party if he wins the electoral contest against Mallikarjun Kharge for the top post, the former Union minister said, “I think an important first step would be to call for elections to the Working Committee to spread our inner-party democracy even further.”

    “I am going to implement fully the existing Constitution, which requires CWC elections and the revival of the parliamentary board that has been dormant for a quarter-century, and the Udaipur Declaration which was unanimously agreed,” Tharoor said.

    The holding of the Congress Working Committee elections and the revival of the parliamentary board were among the key demands of the group of 23 leaders, including Tharoor, who wrote to party chief Sonia Gandhi in 2020 seeking large-scale organisational reforms.

    At the Shivir, the Congress had adopted the Udaipur Declaration which included wide-ranging organisational reforms to make the party battle-ready for the next round of assembly and Lok Sabha polls, including wider representation to those under 50 years of age and enforcing ‘one person, one post’ and ‘one family, one ticket’ rules with riders.

    Tharoor said that as he has pointed out in his manifesto that Congress must empower the party in the states by giving real authority to the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) presidents, block, mandal, and booth presidents.

    “We must decentralise authority and truly empower the grassroots office-bearers of the party. Our PCC delegates, for instance, have literally had no role for the last 22 years but to vote in the coming election on October 17th!” the 66-year-old leader said.

    “I want their elected status to be honoured by ensuring PCC delegates a place on the platform when any senior leader comes visiting, involve them in the consultations that must take place before candidates are selected for elections, and so on,” he said.

    Tharoor stressed that the Congress must provide a credible alternative to the BJP’s “centralisation of authority” in its party affairs and in the affairs of governance.

    “I have been a big fan of the 2014 UPA election slogan ‘Main nahin, hum’. Re-imagining the organisation, delegating powers to grassroots-level leaders and empowering our workers as stakeholders in our success, will not only free the new president from the onerous burdens of over-administration, but help recreate the strong state leadership that, in past eras, strengthened the Congress’ national appeal,” he said.

    Tharoor, who has run an energetic campaign across various states to seek the support of the PCC delegates for his Congress presidential bid, also said the response from ordinary party workers, especially young delegates, has been immensely encouraging.

    “Many have even volunteered to spread my message among their own circles and are supporting my campaign with a level of enthusiasm that is both inspiring and humbling,” he said.

    “I look forward to continuing to put my best foot forward and to work as hard as humanly possible in this campaign, which is the only way I can repay their faith and trust in my candidacy,” the senior Congress leader said.

    Tharoor has asserted that he is the candidate for reform and change in the way the party is run, only to make it fighting fit to tackle the BJP in 2024.

    Tharoor is pitted against Kharge, who is being seen as a favourite for the top party post because of his perceived proximity to the Gandhi family.

    However, Tharoor has reiterated time and again that the Gandhi family has made it clear that they are staying above the fray and are neutral.

    At a press conference during the Bharat Jodo Yatra last week, Rahul Gandhi had dismissed claims that the next Congress president would be “remote-controlled” by his family, saying both the contenders — Kharge and Tharoor — are people of stature and understanding and to make such a suggestion was insulting for them.

    The Congress presidential poll will take place on October 17 and the results will be out on October 19.

    NEW DELHI: Congress presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday asserted that if he becomes the AICC chief, he would fully implement the party’s existing constitution which requires CWC elections and revival of the parliamentary board that has been dormant for a quarter-century.

    In an interview with PTI, Tharoor also said the Congress must decentralise authority and truly empower the grassroots office-bearers of the party.

    The Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram said he would fully implement the Udaipur Declaration which was unanimously agreed at the party’s Chintan Shivir earlier this year.

    Asked about his plans for the party if he wins the electoral contest against Mallikarjun Kharge for the top post, the former Union minister said, “I think an important first step would be to call for elections to the Working Committee to spread our inner-party democracy even further.”

    “I am going to implement fully the existing Constitution, which requires CWC elections and the revival of the parliamentary board that has been dormant for a quarter-century, and the Udaipur Declaration which was unanimously agreed,” Tharoor said.

    The holding of the Congress Working Committee elections and the revival of the parliamentary board were among the key demands of the group of 23 leaders, including Tharoor, who wrote to party chief Sonia Gandhi in 2020 seeking large-scale organisational reforms.

    At the Shivir, the Congress had adopted the Udaipur Declaration which included wide-ranging organisational reforms to make the party battle-ready for the next round of assembly and Lok Sabha polls, including wider representation to those under 50 years of age and enforcing ‘one person, one post’ and ‘one family, one ticket’ rules with riders.

    Tharoor said that as he has pointed out in his manifesto that Congress must empower the party in the states by giving real authority to the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) presidents, block, mandal, and booth presidents.

    “We must decentralise authority and truly empower the grassroots office-bearers of the party. Our PCC delegates, for instance, have literally had no role for the last 22 years but to vote in the coming election on October 17th!” the 66-year-old leader said.

    “I want their elected status to be honoured by ensuring PCC delegates a place on the platform when any senior leader comes visiting, involve them in the consultations that must take place before candidates are selected for elections, and so on,” he said.

    Tharoor stressed that the Congress must provide a credible alternative to the BJP’s “centralisation of authority” in its party affairs and in the affairs of governance.

    “I have been a big fan of the 2014 UPA election slogan ‘Main nahin, hum’. Re-imagining the organisation, delegating powers to grassroots-level leaders and empowering our workers as stakeholders in our success, will not only free the new president from the onerous burdens of over-administration, but help recreate the strong state leadership that, in past eras, strengthened the Congress’ national appeal,” he said.

    Tharoor, who has run an energetic campaign across various states to seek the support of the PCC delegates for his Congress presidential bid, also said the response from ordinary party workers, especially young delegates, has been immensely encouraging.

    “Many have even volunteered to spread my message among their own circles and are supporting my campaign with a level of enthusiasm that is both inspiring and humbling,” he said.

    “I look forward to continuing to put my best foot forward and to work as hard as humanly possible in this campaign, which is the only way I can repay their faith and trust in my candidacy,” the senior Congress leader said.

    Tharoor has asserted that he is the candidate for reform and change in the way the party is run, only to make it fighting fit to tackle the BJP in 2024.

    Tharoor is pitted against Kharge, who is being seen as a favourite for the top party post because of his perceived proximity to the Gandhi family.

    However, Tharoor has reiterated time and again that the Gandhi family has made it clear that they are staying above the fray and are neutral.

    At a press conference during the Bharat Jodo Yatra last week, Rahul Gandhi had dismissed claims that the next Congress president would be “remote-controlled” by his family, saying both the contenders — Kharge and Tharoor — are people of stature and understanding and to make such a suggestion was insulting for them.

    The Congress presidential poll will take place on October 17 and the results will be out on October 19.

  • Congress president polls: Mallikarjun Kharge dismisses “rumours” of Sonia Gandhi’s support

    By ANI

    LUCKNOW: Congress veteran leader and party’s presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge said that his name was not suggested by the party supremo Sonia Gandhi and dismissed the speculations of receiving support from the party’s interim president.

    Kharge said that Sonia Gandhi had never suggested his name for the party president position and called it a rumour.

    “Sonia Gandhi suggesting my name for the president position is all a rumour, I have never said this. She has clearly stated that anyone from the Gandhi family will neither be a part of the election nor support any candidate,” Kharge said on Tuesday.

    Notably, Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge are up against each other in the race for the post of Congress President.

    “Someone has spread this rumour to defame the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi and me. She has clearly stated that she will not participate in the party elections nor will she come in support of any candidate,” Kharge said.

    ALSO READ | Kharge’s absence in Bharat Jodo Yatra’s Karnataka leg implies party’s bid to show ‘neutrality’: Sources 

    Kharge further said that the members of the party have elected delegates which are 9300 in numbers which will vote for the candidate and the one with the majority, would be elected.

    Talking about voters of Uttar Pradesh, he said that there were a total of “1250 voters” (delegates) in UP.

    “I am not here to see the chances for me, the candidates that have asked me to contest will be responsible for my victory,” he added.

    Earlier on Sunday, Kharge had said that he is fighting the Congress Presidential polls because the condition in the country is very “bad” and he wants to “fight” them.

    ALSO READ | Power Games: Congress helping Tharoor to keep Kharge grounded

    “I want to fight because the condition in the country is bad. Modi and Shah are doing politics where there is no place for Democracy. Agencies like CBI and ED are weakening. To fight them I need to have power. That is why, on the recommendation of delegations, I am fighting the polls,” Kharge had said.

    Digvijaya Singh pulled out from the race earlier and extended his support to Kharge, who he said is a senior and respected leader of the party, and against whom he “cannot think of contesting”.Singh was the second Congress leader to pull out of the race after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced he would not contest the elections following the political turmoil in his state.

    With the Gandhis not running for the top post, the grand old party is all set to get a non-Gandhi president after over 25 years.The last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 8. Voting will take place on October 17 and the election results will be declared on October 19.

    The MP from Wayanad Rahul Gandhi is currently leading Bharat Jodo Yatra- the 3,500-km march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, covering as many as 12 states. The Yatra started from Kanyakumari and will end in Kashmir the next year by covering 25 km every day. 

    LUCKNOW: Congress veteran leader and party’s presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge said that his name was not suggested by the party supremo Sonia Gandhi and dismissed the speculations of receiving support from the party’s interim president.

    Kharge said that Sonia Gandhi had never suggested his name for the party president position and called it a rumour.

    “Sonia Gandhi suggesting my name for the president position is all a rumour, I have never said this. She has clearly stated that anyone from the Gandhi family will neither be a part of the election nor support any candidate,” Kharge said on Tuesday.

    Notably, Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge are up against each other in the race for the post of Congress President.

    “Someone has spread this rumour to defame the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi and me. She has clearly stated that she will not participate in the party elections nor will she come in support of any candidate,” Kharge said.

    ALSO READ | Kharge’s absence in Bharat Jodo Yatra’s Karnataka leg implies party’s bid to show ‘neutrality’: Sources 

    Kharge further said that the members of the party have elected delegates which are 9300 in numbers which will vote for the candidate and the one with the majority, would be elected.

    Talking about voters of Uttar Pradesh, he said that there were a total of “1250 voters” (delegates) in UP.

    “I am not here to see the chances for me, the candidates that have asked me to contest will be responsible for my victory,” he added.

    Earlier on Sunday, Kharge had said that he is fighting the Congress Presidential polls because the condition in the country is very “bad” and he wants to “fight” them.

    ALSO READ | Power Games: Congress helping Tharoor to keep Kharge grounded

    “I want to fight because the condition in the country is bad. Modi and Shah are doing politics where there is no place for Democracy. Agencies like CBI and ED are weakening. To fight them I need to have power. That is why, on the recommendation of delegations, I am fighting the polls,” Kharge had said.

    Digvijaya Singh pulled out from the race earlier and extended his support to Kharge, who he said is a senior and respected leader of the party, and against whom he “cannot think of contesting”.Singh was the second Congress leader to pull out of the race after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced he would not contest the elections following the political turmoil in his state.

    With the Gandhis not running for the top post, the grand old party is all set to get a non-Gandhi president after over 25 years.The last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 8. Voting will take place on October 17 and the election results will be declared on October 19.

    The MP from Wayanad Rahul Gandhi is currently leading Bharat Jodo Yatra- the 3,500-km march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, covering as many as 12 states. The Yatra started from Kanyakumari and will end in Kashmir the next year by covering 25 km every day. 

  • Contest with Tharoor is for betterment of country and Congress: Mallikarjun Kharge

    By PTI

    SRI NAGAR: Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said his contest with Shashi Tharoor for the post of party president was aimed at putting forth their viewpoints for the betterment of the country and the party.

    Kharge said this during an interaction with party delegates at Congress office here, where he sought their support for the AICC presidential election.

    “This is an internal election. It is like two brothers at home, who are not fighting, but placing their points of view and trying to persuade each other,” he said.

    The Congress party veteran said the election campaign was not about what a particular candidate will do if he becomes the president of the party, but what they can do together.

    “My belief is. What I will do is not the question. The question is what we both will do together for the country and for the party, this is important.

    Let us not talk about whether I will do this or that, or talk about someone else. How will you (party workers) and me together make the party stronger, save the country’s constitution and its democracy, that is the question.

    “Today, the country’s atmosphere is deteriorating and we have to make it stronger by peace and unity. That is why Bharat Jodo yatra is on,” he said. Kharge, 80, said he would implement the Udaipur declaration of the party if he gets elected.

    “If I get an opportunity, then I will try to fully implement the Udaipur declaration because you have made the declaration after deliberations and placed a few things before the party, the country. I will try to take that forward and will take you along.

    “It is important to take everyone along. I will take everyone’s advice and find solutions to the problems by discussing with PCCs and others. It is collective leadership,” he added.

    Appealing to the delegates to support his candidature, the former leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha said there was no pressure on anyone and whoever was supporting him, was doing so happily. He also said Rahul Gandhi was the only option if the party has to become stronger and powerful.

    “When I met Madam (Sonia) Gandhi, I told her if the party has to become stronger and powerful, then there is no option other than Rahul Gandhi because he fights on the roads, in the Parliament, and now he has vowed to walk 3500 km and he has walked three states.”

    “It is his commitment. He is walking on the roads and not taking decisions in an AC chamber. Thousands and lakhs of people are joining. This Bharat Jodo yatra is about uniting the thinking of the people of the country and not about dividing them,” he said.

    Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s charge that the Congress only talks about dividing the country, Kharge said if the country is prospering today, it is because of the Congress party.

    “Our leaders have given so much to the country,” he said. Kharge said it was Shah’s habit to talk about dividing the country and not uniting it everywhere he goes.

    “We talk about uniting the country, uniting the society, getting everyone together and saving the constitution so that the country functions as a democracy. We believe in that and we are working for that,” he said.

    He also asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah helped in getting the country its independence.

    “They were not even born then. Congress party leaders like Mahatma Gandhi fought for it. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru spent nine years in jail for uniting the country. Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives. What sacrifice have you given for the country?” he asked.

    “If nothing has been done in these 70 years, then would there be many AIIMS, so many doctors and engineers or so much public sector work? They do nothing, but only sloganeering, dividing the people is their aim and they are doing that. But, we will continue to fight that,” the Congress leader said.

    SRI NAGAR: Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said his contest with Shashi Tharoor for the post of party president was aimed at putting forth their viewpoints for the betterment of the country and the party.

    Kharge said this during an interaction with party delegates at Congress office here, where he sought their support for the AICC presidential election.

    “This is an internal election. It is like two brothers at home, who are not fighting, but placing their points of view and trying to persuade each other,” he said.

    The Congress party veteran said the election campaign was not about what a particular candidate will do if he becomes the president of the party, but what they can do together.

    “My belief is. What I will do is not the question. The question is what we both will do together for the country and for the party, this is important.

    Let us not talk about whether I will do this or that, or talk about someone else. How will you (party workers) and me together make the party stronger, save the country’s constitution and its democracy, that is the question.

    “Today, the country’s atmosphere is deteriorating and we have to make it stronger by peace and unity. That is why Bharat Jodo yatra is on,” he said. Kharge, 80, said he would implement the Udaipur declaration of the party if he gets elected.

    “If I get an opportunity, then I will try to fully implement the Udaipur declaration because you have made the declaration after deliberations and placed a few things before the party, the country. I will try to take that forward and will take you along.

    “It is important to take everyone along. I will take everyone’s advice and find solutions to the problems by discussing with PCCs and others. It is collective leadership,” he added.

    Appealing to the delegates to support his candidature, the former leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha said there was no pressure on anyone and whoever was supporting him, was doing so happily. He also said Rahul Gandhi was the only option if the party has to become stronger and powerful.

    “When I met Madam (Sonia) Gandhi, I told her if the party has to become stronger and powerful, then there is no option other than Rahul Gandhi because he fights on the roads, in the Parliament, and now he has vowed to walk 3500 km and he has walked three states.”

    “It is his commitment. He is walking on the roads and not taking decisions in an AC chamber. Thousands and lakhs of people are joining. This Bharat Jodo yatra is about uniting the thinking of the people of the country and not about dividing them,” he said.

    Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s charge that the Congress only talks about dividing the country, Kharge said if the country is prospering today, it is because of the Congress party.

    “Our leaders have given so much to the country,” he said. Kharge said it was Shah’s habit to talk about dividing the country and not uniting it everywhere he goes.

    “We talk about uniting the country, uniting the society, getting everyone together and saving the constitution so that the country functions as a democracy. We believe in that and we are working for that,” he said.

    He also asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah helped in getting the country its independence.

    “They were not even born then. Congress party leaders like Mahatma Gandhi fought for it. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru spent nine years in jail for uniting the country. Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives. What sacrifice have you given for the country?” he asked.

    “If nothing has been done in these 70 years, then would there be many AIIMS, so many doctors and engineers or so much public sector work? They do nothing, but only sloganeering, dividing the people is their aim and they are doing that. But, we will continue to fight that,” the Congress leader said.

  • Kharge vows 50 per cent of party posts for youngsters as per Udaipur Declaration

    By PTI

    HYDERABAD: Amid suggestions that Congress should be led by a young leader, AICC presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said he would implement the Udaipur Declaration’s proposal of offering 50 per cent of party posts to those below 50 years of age, if he wins the poll.

    “It’s not for post in Congress. Many people left, they left due to fear of ED, CBI, and income tax. For youngsters, as I said, in the Udaipur Declaration, we promised to give 50 per cent of seats to those below 50 years and I will do. When everyone is wanting to make me occupy this place, I thank them,” he told reporters here.

    He was replying to a query on the argument that 80-year-old Kharge is replacing Sonia Gandhi, who is 75 years old, youth are moving away from the party and that a young leader should lead the Congress.

    Kharge was in Hyderabad as part of his campaign for the AICC president’s post.

    Asked about the ruling TRS in Telangana renaming itself as Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and deciding to go national, he said several regional parties have given themselves the ‘All-India’ tag but had no presence from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.

    He further said he would take efforts to implement the Udaipur Declaration.

    Senior leaders backed his candidature, urging him to fight the poll to keep the party strong at a time when Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra do not want to contest, he said.

    He further said he would take efforts to resolve issues concerning farmers, workers, SC, ST, OBCs, minorities and small businessmen.

    Attacking the NDA government at the Centre for disinvestment in the PSUs that benefited common people and over rising unemployment, decline in rupee value, price rise and GST on essential items, he said there should be a fight against these issues.

    He is contesting to carry out the fight, he said. Kharge said he believed in a collective approach and in taking along everyone, including youth and women.

    He criticised the BJP questioning whether any election was conducted to choose its presidents, including L K Advani, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, and JP Nadda.

    BJP does not have any right to question others, he said. The Congress veteran addressed PCC members during the visit as part of his campaign.

    HYDERABAD: Amid suggestions that Congress should be led by a young leader, AICC presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said he would implement the Udaipur Declaration’s proposal of offering 50 per cent of party posts to those below 50 years of age, if he wins the poll.

    “It’s not for post in Congress. Many people left, they left due to fear of ED, CBI, and income tax. For youngsters, as I said, in the Udaipur Declaration, we promised to give 50 per cent of seats to those below 50 years and I will do. When everyone is wanting to make me occupy this place, I thank them,” he told reporters here.

    He was replying to a query on the argument that 80-year-old Kharge is replacing Sonia Gandhi, who is 75 years old, youth are moving away from the party and that a young leader should lead the Congress.

    Kharge was in Hyderabad as part of his campaign for the AICC president’s post.

    Asked about the ruling TRS in Telangana renaming itself as Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and deciding to go national, he said several regional parties have given themselves the ‘All-India’ tag but had no presence from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.

    He further said he would take efforts to implement the Udaipur Declaration.

    Senior leaders backed his candidature, urging him to fight the poll to keep the party strong at a time when Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra do not want to contest, he said.

    He further said he would take efforts to resolve issues concerning farmers, workers, SC, ST, OBCs, minorities and small businessmen.

    Attacking the NDA government at the Centre for disinvestment in the PSUs that benefited common people and over rising unemployment, decline in rupee value, price rise and GST on essential items, he said there should be a fight against these issues.

    He is contesting to carry out the fight, he said. Kharge said he believed in a collective approach and in taking along everyone, including youth and women.

    He criticised the BJP questioning whether any election was conducted to choose its presidents, including L K Advani, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, and JP Nadda.

    BJP does not have any right to question others, he said. The Congress veteran addressed PCC members during the visit as part of his campaign.