News Analysis India

Tag: Shashi Tharoor

  • Amid Congress president poll, Shashi Tharoor’s name proposed for House panel

    By Express News Service

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is set to become the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers. Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi proposed the name of Tharoor for the post. Curiously the party leadership has proposed Tharoor as chairman of a Parliamentary panel at a time when the diplomat-turned-politician is set to take on Sonia Gandhi’s confidante Mallikarjun Kharge in the party presidential election.

    Sources said that when the panel post fell vacant, Sonia had checked with party senior leaders including Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, on whether Tharoor would be willing to take up the same. The leaders in turn consulted Tharoor and confirmed that he had no qualms in this regard. Tharoor was recently removed by the Union Government as chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT.

    The chairmanship of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers is among the very few panels allotted to the Congress party. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh will continue as chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology. Another senior leader Abhishek Singhvi will continue as the chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Commerce.

    Will follow party principles: KhargePATNA: Congress presidential poll candidate Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday asserted that the party’s ‘big’ leaders and delegates fielded him in the elections and said that he would carry forward the party’s principles if elected to the post. Kharge reached the state capital to seek the support of Congress delegates and later told newspersons at the state party headquarters, Sadaqat Ashram, that the agenda fixed by Congress leaders in Udaipur this year would be his election manifesto. He said that it was decided to give 50 per cent seats to youths. “I will implement the decisions taken at the Udaipur convention,” he added. ENS

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is set to become the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers. Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi proposed the name of Tharoor for the post. Curiously the party leadership has proposed Tharoor as chairman of a Parliamentary panel at a time when the diplomat-turned-politician is set to take on Sonia Gandhi’s confidante Mallikarjun Kharge in the party presidential election.

    Sources said that when the panel post fell vacant, Sonia had checked with party senior leaders including Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, on whether Tharoor would be willing to take up the same. The leaders in turn consulted Tharoor and confirmed that he had no qualms in this regard. Tharoor was recently removed by the Union Government as chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT.

    The chairmanship of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers is among the very few panels allotted to the Congress party. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh will continue as chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology. Another senior leader Abhishek Singhvi will continue as the chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Commerce.

    Will follow party principles: Kharge
    PATNA: Congress presidential poll candidate Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday asserted that the party’s ‘big’ leaders and delegates fielded him in the elections and said that he would carry forward the party’s principles if elected to the post. Kharge reached the state capital to seek the support of Congress delegates and later told newspersons at the state party headquarters, Sadaqat Ashram, that the agenda fixed by Congress leaders in Udaipur this year would be his election manifesto. He said that it was decided to give 50 per cent seats to youths. “I will implement the decisions taken at the Udaipur convention,” he added. ENS

  • 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.

  • Not quitting Congress president race, it’s a fight to finish: Shashi Tharoor

    By Express News Service

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid rumours that he has withdrawn from the election, Shashi Tharoor on Saturday sought to clear the air, saying he is very much in the race. In a video message, Tharoor said he has come across rumours attributing to Delhi sources that he has backed out.

    “If not now, then never… I don’t withdraw from a challenge. Never have all my life, never will. This is a struggle. It’s a friendly contest within the party. But it’s a fight to the finish and I’m here to stay the course,” the Thiruvanathapuram MP said.

    Meanwhile, a senior Congress leader said that Tharoor expects some undercurrents from his home state Kerala. “He is aware that he will not win, but he is determined to bring down the votes of Kharge. This will help him get a berth in the Congress Working Committee or become the general secretary,” the leader said.

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid rumours that he has withdrawn from the election, Shashi Tharoor on Saturday sought to clear the air, saying he is very much in the race. In a video message, Tharoor said he has come across rumours attributing to Delhi sources that he has backed out.

    “If not now, then never… I don’t withdraw from a challenge. Never have all my life, never will. This is a struggle. It’s a friendly contest within the party. But it’s a fight to the finish and I’m here to stay the course,” the Thiruvanathapuram MP said.

    Meanwhile, a senior Congress leader said that Tharoor expects some undercurrents from his home state Kerala. “He is aware that he will not win, but he is determined to bring down the votes of Kharge. This will help him get a berth in the Congress Working Committee or become the general secretary,” the leader said.

  • It’s official, it will be Kharge vs Tharoor on Oct 17 for Congress president

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday announced that an electoral contest would take place between Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor on October 17 with both candidates not withdrawing their nominations, the deadline for which has ended.

    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.

    “There are two candidates who had filed (valid) nomination. Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor. The period of withdrawal is over and none of them has withdrawn their candidature. So, there remain two candidates,” Congress’ central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry said at a press conference at the AICC headquarters here.

    ALSO READ| I don’t withdraw from challenge, never will: Tharoor dismisses talk of withdrawing from Congress prez poll

    The official process of campaigning starts from now but candidates have already started canvassing, he said.

    Elections will take place on October 17 in every state capital from 10 AM to 4 PM, Mistry said, adding that the vote will be by secret ballot.

    The ballot boxes will be brought to Delhi and counting will take place on October 19. Results will be declared the same day, the senior Congress leader said.

    Ballot papers will also be sent to the Bharat Jodo Yatra campsite in Karnataka and a booth will be set up there for the yatris, he said. Mistry also said that an advisory was issued for the polls and it is being followed by everyone.

    ALSO READ| New Congress chief cannot be remote-controlled by Gandhi family: Rahul

    “There is an equal opportunity for both candidates and the apprehensions that used to be there that it may be in favour of one candidate are not there,” he said.

    There was just one complaint during the election process, Mistry said, adding that it is being resolved.

    Amid reports that the Tharoor camp had filed a complaint over some office bearers openly pledging support for Kharge, Mistry refused to divulge whose complaint it was that has been filed and from which state.

    ALSO READ: As Congress chief, I will have remote control in my hand, says Kharge

    “We don’t go by media reports, we can act only on written complaints,” he said when asked about reports of complaints from certain states. A set of guidelines for the elections was issued earlier this week which debarred party office-bearers from campaigning for candidates. Mistry said in all, 67 booths will be set up across states, including one at the AICC headquarters here, and asserted that the elections are an “open process”.

    More than 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates will vote in the poll.

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday announced that an electoral contest would take place between Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor on October 17 with both candidates not withdrawing their nominations, the deadline for which has ended.

    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.

    “There are two candidates who had filed (valid) nomination. Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor. The period of withdrawal is over and none of them has withdrawn their candidature. So, there remain two candidates,” Congress’ central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry said at a press conference at the AICC headquarters here.

    ALSO READ| I don’t withdraw from challenge, never will: Tharoor dismisses talk of withdrawing from Congress prez poll

    The official process of campaigning starts from now but candidates have already started canvassing, he said.

    Elections will take place on October 17 in every state capital from 10 AM to 4 PM, Mistry said, adding that the vote will be by secret ballot.

    The ballot boxes will be brought to Delhi and counting will take place on October 19. Results will be declared the same day, the senior Congress leader said.

    Ballot papers will also be sent to the Bharat Jodo Yatra campsite in Karnataka and a booth will be set up there for the yatris, he said. Mistry also said that an advisory was issued for the polls and it is being followed by everyone.

    ALSO READ| New Congress chief cannot be remote-controlled by Gandhi family: Rahul

    “There is an equal opportunity for both candidates and the apprehensions that used to be there that it may be in favour of one candidate are not there,” he said.

    There was just one complaint during the election process, Mistry said, adding that it is being resolved.

    Amid reports that the Tharoor camp had filed a complaint over some office bearers openly pledging support for Kharge, Mistry refused to divulge whose complaint it was that has been filed and from which state.

    ALSO READ: As Congress chief, I will have remote control in my hand, says Kharge

    “We don’t go by media reports, we can act only on written complaints,” he said when asked about reports of complaints from certain states. A set of guidelines for the elections was issued earlier this week which debarred party office-bearers from campaigning for candidates. Mistry said in all, 67 booths will be set up across states, including one at the AICC headquarters here, and asserted that the elections are an “open process”.

    More than 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates will vote in the poll.

  • I don’t withdraw from challenge, never will: Tharoor dismisses talk of withdrawing from Congress prez poll

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress presidential polls candidate Shashi Tharoor on Saturday dismissed talk of him withdrawing from the election, asserting that he never backs down from a challenge and “it is a fight to the finish”.

    Tharoor, who has been aggressively campaigning in the polls, also asserted that it was a “friendly contest” within the party that was taking place and he is here to stay the course.

    Tharoor is set to take on Mallikarjun Kharge in the polls.

    “There are rumours going around attributed to sources in Delhi that I am withdrawing (from the polls) today. Let me assure you, I don’t withdraw from a challenge, never have all my life, never will,” the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said in a video message on Twitter.

    Surprised to get calls saying that “sources in Delhi” claim that I have withdrawn! I am on this race till the finish. #ThinkTomorrowThinkTharoor pic.twitter.com/zF3HZ8LtH5
    — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 8, 2022
    “This is a struggle, it is a friendly contest within the party, but it is a fight to the finish and I am here to stay the course. Please come and vote on October 17. For me, ‘Think tomorrow, think Tharoor’,” Tharoor said. His remarks come on the last date for the withdrawal of nominations which is October 8.

    According to a notification issued by Congress, the process for filing nominations for the election was from September 24 to 30. The polling will be held on October 17.

    The counting of votes will be taken up on October 19 and the results will be declared the same day.

    NEW DELHI: Congress presidential polls candidate Shashi Tharoor on Saturday dismissed talk of him withdrawing from the election, asserting that he never backs down from a challenge and “it is a fight to the finish”.

    Tharoor, who has been aggressively campaigning in the polls, also asserted that it was a “friendly contest” within the party that was taking place and he is here to stay the course.

    Tharoor is set to take on Mallikarjun Kharge in the polls.

    “There are rumours going around attributed to sources in Delhi that I am withdrawing (from the polls) today. Let me assure you, I don’t withdraw from a challenge, never have all my life, never will,” the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said in a video message on Twitter.

    Surprised to get calls saying that “sources in Delhi” claim that I have withdrawn! I am on this race till the finish. #ThinkTomorrowThinkTharoor pic.twitter.com/zF3HZ8LtH5
    — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 8, 2022
    “This is a struggle, it is a friendly contest within the party, but it is a fight to the finish and I am here to stay the course. Please come and vote on October 17. For me, ‘Think tomorrow, think Tharoor’,” Tharoor said. His remarks come on the last date for the withdrawal of nominations which is October 8.

    According to a notification issued by Congress, the process for filing nominations for the election was from September 24 to 30. The polling will be held on October 17.

    The counting of votes will be taken up on October 19 and the results will be declared the same day.

  • New Congress chief cannot be remote-controlled by Gandhi family: Rahul

    Gandhi also said that by nature he believes in 'tapasya' and wanted an element of suffering in this communication to people through the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

  • Tiff with government cost Tharoor House panel post: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Days after losing the chairmanship of key Parliamentary Committees, Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the Union government’s differences with Shashi Tharoor led Information Technology (IT) Parliamentary panel might have triggered the decision to remove him from the post. During Tharoor’s tenure as IT panel chief, he had locked horns with BJP members in the committee, besides taking up several controversial issues such as Pegasus, Data Protection Bill and ‘summoning twitter officials’.

    On Tuesday, in a reconstitution of Parliamentary Committees, the BJP and its allies held sway over chairman posts of key panels such as — Home Affairs, Information Technology,  Defence, Health and Family Welfare, External Affairs and Finance. While Congress lost the chairmanship of both the Home affairs panel and (IT) Parliamentary panel, TMC, the second largest opposition party didn’t get any.  The move had triggered strong protests from both parties.

    In the rejig, BJP MP Brij Lal has been appointed at the helm of Home Affairs panel replacing Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi.  Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor was replaced by Shiv Sena MP Prataprao Jadhav as the new chairman of the IT panel.  Jadhav belongs to Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde faction. Speaking to this daily, Chowdhury described the move as another attempt to muzzle the voice of the Opposition. “The government’s differences with the Tharoor-led IT panel might have triggered the decision. The posts were taken away from the party because they are scared that Tharoor will create more problems for them,” he said.

    Congress leader Jairam Ramesh was retained as the chairperson of the committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests, the party nominated RS MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi as chairman of the Standing Committee on Commerce. Though chairmanship for the panel on chemicals and fertilisers was offered to Congress, the party is yet to make a decision. Chowdhury said though he met the Speaker and wrote two letters over the arbitrary action of the government, he didn’t receive any favourable response.

    Sena MP replaces Tharoor in IT panelLok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor was replaced by Shiv Sena MP Prataprao Jadhav as the new chairman of the IT panel.  Jadhav belongs to Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde faction. 

    NEW DELHI: Days after losing the chairmanship of key Parliamentary Committees, Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the Union government’s differences with Shashi Tharoor led Information Technology (IT) Parliamentary panel might have triggered the decision to remove him from the post. During Tharoor’s tenure as IT panel chief, he had locked horns with BJP members in the committee, besides taking up several controversial issues such as Pegasus, Data Protection Bill and ‘summoning twitter officials’.

    On Tuesday, in a reconstitution of Parliamentary Committees, the BJP and its allies held sway over chairman posts of key panels such as — Home Affairs, Information Technology,  Defence, Health and Family Welfare, External Affairs and Finance. While Congress lost the chairmanship of both the Home affairs panel and (IT) Parliamentary panel, TMC, the second largest opposition party didn’t get any.  The move had triggered strong protests from both parties.

    In the rejig, BJP MP Brij Lal has been appointed at the helm of Home Affairs panel replacing Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi.  Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor was replaced by Shiv Sena MP Prataprao Jadhav as the new chairman of the IT panel.  Jadhav belongs to Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde faction. Speaking to this daily, Chowdhury described the move as another attempt to muzzle the voice of the Opposition. “The government’s differences with the Tharoor-led IT panel might have triggered the decision. The posts were taken away from the party because they are scared that Tharoor will create more problems for them,” he said.

    Congress leader Jairam Ramesh was retained as the chairperson of the committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests, the party nominated RS MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi as chairman of the Standing Committee on Commerce. Though chairmanship for the panel on chemicals and fertilisers was offered to Congress, the party is yet to make a decision. Chowdhury said though he met the Speaker and wrote two letters over the arbitrary action of the government, he didn’t receive any favourable response.

    Sena MP replaces Tharoor in IT panel
    Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor was replaced by Shiv Sena MP Prataprao Jadhav as the new chairman of the IT panel.  Jadhav belongs to Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde faction.
     

  • Shashi Tharoor releases election manifesto, pitches for limiting state chiefs’ term

    By PTI

    CHENNAI: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday favoured limiting the term of office for state presidents in the party and said Congress should be revived and re-energised to take on BJP in the 2024 general elections.

    Denying rumours that he may opt out of the presidential race due to meagre support, Tharoor said he was very much in the fray and has been receiving support from various quarters.

    “My message is revive the party, re-energise it, empower workers, decentralise authority and be in touch with the people. This, I believe will make Congress politically fit to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP in the 2024 (general) election,” Tharoor said during his interaction with media persons at Sathyamurthy Bhavan, the Congress state headquarters.

    Stating that he has respect and great regards for party veteran Mallikarjun Kharge, Tharoor said the contest was friendly based on different approaches to face the BJP and not ideological, as both hailed from the same party.

    “We need to reform the way our party functions. We need to bring young people in the party and give them real authority. At the same time, we should give greater respect to hardworking and long-serving karyakartas,” he said releasing his poll manifesto.

    Decentralising powers, strengthening party at the booth level, utilising general secretaries for nation building activities while dispensing their services as state in-charges, and trusting state presidents by giving them a free hand in decision making besides limiting their term of office, are among the 10 points highlighted in the manifesto.

    “We need to reiterate the core convictions of the Congress. We are the party of inclusive India, a party that believes in equal rights and is against oppression. This is the idea we stood and fought for and we must reiterate it,” he said.

    If elected as president, he would revive certain institutions like the parliamentary board. The manifesto focuses on the need for the Congress to return to the ethos of social work, Tharoor added.

    “The party is not a machine to fight elections once in five years, but it should live along with and serve the people. we should connect with the people and work with them,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP said.

    Popular connect with people is fundamental and this was being illustrated by the successful Bharat Jodo Yatra of party leader Rahul Gandhi, he said.

    Responding to a question, Tharoor replied the party has a successful alliance with the DMK in Tamil Nadu and it enjoyed good ties with the state government.

    CHENNAI: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday favoured limiting the term of office for state presidents in the party and said Congress should be revived and re-energised to take on BJP in the 2024 general elections.

    Denying rumours that he may opt out of the presidential race due to meagre support, Tharoor said he was very much in the fray and has been receiving support from various quarters.

    “My message is revive the party, re-energise it, empower workers, decentralise authority and be in touch with the people. This, I believe will make Congress politically fit to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP in the 2024 (general) election,” Tharoor said during his interaction with media persons at Sathyamurthy Bhavan, the Congress state headquarters.

    Stating that he has respect and great regards for party veteran Mallikarjun Kharge, Tharoor said the contest was friendly based on different approaches to face the BJP and not ideological, as both hailed from the same party.

    “We need to reform the way our party functions. We need to bring young people in the party and give them real authority. At the same time, we should give greater respect to hardworking and long-serving karyakartas,” he said releasing his poll manifesto.

    Decentralising powers, strengthening party at the booth level, utilising general secretaries for nation building activities while dispensing their services as state in-charges, and trusting state presidents by giving them a free hand in decision making besides limiting their term of office, are among the 10 points highlighted in the manifesto.

    “We need to reiterate the core convictions of the Congress. We are the party of inclusive India, a party that believes in equal rights and is against oppression. This is the idea we stood and fought for and we must reiterate it,” he said.

    If elected as president, he would revive certain institutions like the parliamentary board. The manifesto focuses on the need for the Congress to return to the ethos of social work, Tharoor added.

    “The party is not a machine to fight elections once in five years, but it should live along with and serve the people. we should connect with the people and work with them,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP said.

    Popular connect with people is fundamental and this was being illustrated by the successful Bharat Jodo Yatra of party leader Rahul Gandhi, he said.

    Responding to a question, Tharoor replied the party has a successful alliance with the DMK in Tamil Nadu and it enjoyed good ties with the state government.

  • Shashi Tharoor style makes waves in Congresss poll drive

    Express News Service

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With Shashi Tharoor launching a parliament election-like campaign in the Congress presidential poll, an interesting situation has evolved in Kerala. The party leadership in the state has rallied behind the Gandhi family nominee, Mallikarjun Kharge, while the common Congress workers have thrown their weight behind the Thiruvanathapuram MP. Over the past few days, Tharoor is all over the social media with scores of people urging him to bring in change and transparency as well as instill young blood in the party.

    Though the top Congress leaders in Kerala are putting up a brave face, they are surpised at the support Tharoor is gaining at the grass-root level, and allege it’s the handiwork of the CPM and the BJP supporters. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan said the massive support for Tharoor in social media will not reflect in the presidential polls. “Tharoor is definitely an intellectual par excellence and also an asset to the party. But what’s his Congress background? He may be having a huge fanbase in social media who incidentally are not voters in the election,” Satheesan told TNIE. Satheesan’s predecessor Ramesh Chennithala, who is slated to campaign for Kharge in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, has also challenged Tharoor’s claim that he is the “ideal” choice for the Congress president post.

    Tharoor meets Chandy, other seniors

    Chennithala told TNIE that he became a Congress Working Committee leader at a very young age after holding several posts, step by step. “Tharoor is yet to hold any post at the organisational level. So how is it possible to directly contest for the Congress president’s post? We don’t endorse his opinion that he is the ideal candidate for the president post.” he said. Meanwhile, Tharoor met several senior leaders like Vakkom Purushothaman, Thennala Balakrishna Pillai and Oommen Chandy seeking their support.

    He even visited Punalur in Kollam to pay respects to former sate secretary Punalur Madhu, who died on Monday. The Congress leadership in Kerala claims Tharoor will secure only 10% of the total 309 votes in the state. However, Tharoor loyalist Thampanoor Ravi said numbers do not matter.

    “Election to the post of the Congress president is happening after 22 years. Tharoor has shown the guts to contest. There’s nothing wrong as the national leadership has been saying time and again that anyone can contest in the election which is being held democratically,” Ravi, who originally belongs to the Oommen Chandy faction, told TNIE. On Thursday, Tharoor is slated to meet party leaders in Chennai.

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With Shashi Tharoor launching a parliament election-like campaign in the Congress presidential poll, an interesting situation has evolved in Kerala. The party leadership in the state has rallied behind the Gandhi family nominee, Mallikarjun Kharge, while the common Congress workers have thrown their weight behind the Thiruvanathapuram MP. Over the past few days, Tharoor is all over the social media with scores of people urging him to bring in change and transparency as well as instill young blood in the party.

    Though the top Congress leaders in Kerala are putting up a brave face, they are surpised at the support Tharoor is gaining at the grass-root level, and allege it’s the handiwork of the CPM and the BJP supporters. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan said the massive support for Tharoor in social media will not reflect in the presidential polls. “Tharoor is definitely an intellectual par excellence and also an asset to the party. But what’s his Congress background? He may be having a huge fanbase in social media who incidentally are not voters in the election,” Satheesan told TNIE. Satheesan’s predecessor Ramesh Chennithala, who is slated to campaign for Kharge in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, has also challenged Tharoor’s claim that he is the “ideal” choice for the Congress president post.

    Tharoor meets Chandy, other seniors

    Chennithala told TNIE that he became a Congress Working Committee leader at a very young age after holding several posts, step by step. “Tharoor is yet to hold any post at the organisational level. So how is it possible to directly contest for the Congress president’s post? We don’t endorse his opinion that he is the ideal candidate for the president post.” he said. Meanwhile, Tharoor met several senior leaders like Vakkom Purushothaman, Thennala Balakrishna Pillai and Oommen Chandy seeking their support.

    He even visited Punalur in Kollam to pay respects to former sate secretary Punalur Madhu, who died on Monday. The Congress leadership in Kerala claims Tharoor will secure only 10% of the total 309 votes in the state. However, Tharoor loyalist Thampanoor Ravi said numbers do not matter.

    “Election to the post of the Congress president is happening after 22 years. Tharoor has shown the guts to contest. There’s nothing wrong as the national leadership has been saying time and again that anyone can contest in the election which is being held democratically,” Ravi, who originally belongs to the Oommen Chandy faction, told TNIE. On Thursday, Tharoor is slated to meet party leaders in Chennai.

  • Tharoor picks ‘Reinvent Congress’ slogan to garner support, rules out differences with Kharge

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday asserted that a reimagined party is needed to take on the BJP, while seeking support from party electors for his candidacy to the post of party chief.

    Tharoor, who is canvassing for his candidature among party delegates, ruled out ideological difference with veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also in the presidential race.

    “Let me make clear that I agree with @kharge ji that all of us in @incIndia wish to take on the BJP rather than each other. There is no ideological difference between us. The choice for our voting colleagues Oct 17 is only on how to do it most effectively,” Tharoor said in a tweet.

    His remarks comes a day after Kharge said he conveyed to Tharoor that a consensus candidate would be better, but the Lok Sabha MP insisted on a contest for the “sake of democracy”.

    Tharoor, who is in Hyderabad in connection with his campaign for Congress presidential poll, said he has “enormous” respect for his rival Kharge.

    “I believe we need a reinvented, reimagined Congress to take on the BJP. That’s why I have continued with my candidacy in this election,” he told reporters in Hyderabad.

    The Thiruvananthapuram MP said he would not withdraw from the contest despite his respect for Kharge as that would amount to betrayal of many colleagues who urged him to contest.

    His campaign is getting good response and he would visit cities including Chennai and Mumbai as well, he said.

    “We want the Congress party to prevail once again in our country. As far as I am concerned, the only real difference in this election is about how we go about the challenges facing the Congress party in overcoming the BJP and its formidable electoral machine,” he said.

    The contest is a “discussion within the family” and there is no quarrel, he said.

    Kharge has great experience, ability and knowledge, he said. “I bring a different approach and I put that before the voters to see what they want. But, I do want to stress. We are all in this together.”

    On his Twitter handle, Tharoor said he was delighted to receive the endorsement of Telangana Congress working president and cricket legend Mohammed Azharuddin.

    “Azhar joins me in wanting change & reform in our party so as to better equip us to take on the BJP,” he tweeted.  Tharoor told reporters that irrespective of who emerges victorious, it would be the biggest victory for the Congress party.

    Asked about Kharge’s comments in favour of a consensus candidate, Tharoor described Kharge as a giant in the country’s politics and said both of them wished each other well during a telephonic conversation.

    On his comment favouring a public debate with Kharge, he said he was only responding to a question from a journalist. Tharoor said he was asked if he was prepared for a debate.

    There is no need to debate because they both agree on the party’s fundamental commitment to the ideas of India and the ideals enshrined in the Constitution, he said.

    To a question on the Gandhi family being neutral vis-a-vis the presidential election, he said they welcome a free and fair election and that they would stay neutral.

    On “G-23 group”, he said it was a “media creation”. Recalling past developments on that matter, he said a couple of senior leaders had written to the party high command on the desired reforms.

    Due to the COVID induced lockdown in 2020, he said only 23 people were available to affix their signatures, backing them.

    “That’s why 23 signed. It could have been 100. It could have been less, it could have been more. These were the people who were available to sign,” he said.

    When told that there is a possibility of a Dalit leader (Kharge) becoming Congress president after many years if he withdraws from the contest, he said he sees Kharge as a very great leader well beyond any question of caste identity.

    He said he would reach out to the voting delegates across the country once their phone numbers are available on Wednesday.

    Former Union Minister M M Pallam Raju visited Tharoor. The polling for the Congress presidential election is scheduled to be held on October 17. The counting of votes would be taken up on October 19 and the results are expected the same day. More than 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates form the electorate.

    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday asserted that a reimagined party is needed to take on the BJP, while seeking support from party electors for his candidacy to the post of party chief.

    Tharoor, who is canvassing for his candidature among party delegates, ruled out ideological difference with veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also in the presidential race.

    “Let me make clear that I agree with @kharge ji that all of us in @incIndia wish to take on the BJP rather than each other. There is no ideological difference between us. The choice for our voting colleagues Oct 17 is only on how to do it most effectively,” Tharoor said in a tweet.

    His remarks comes a day after Kharge said he conveyed to Tharoor that a consensus candidate would be better, but the Lok Sabha MP insisted on a contest for the “sake of democracy”.

    Tharoor, who is in Hyderabad in connection with his campaign for Congress presidential poll, said he has “enormous” respect for his rival Kharge.

    “I believe we need a reinvented, reimagined Congress to take on the BJP. That’s why I have continued with my candidacy in this election,” he told reporters in Hyderabad.

    The Thiruvananthapuram MP said he would not withdraw from the contest despite his respect for Kharge as that would amount to betrayal of many colleagues who urged him to contest.

    His campaign is getting good response and he would visit cities including Chennai and Mumbai as well, he said.

    “We want the Congress party to prevail once again in our country. As far as I am concerned, the only real difference in this election is about how we go about the challenges facing the Congress party in overcoming the BJP and its formidable electoral machine,” he said.

    The contest is a “discussion within the family” and there is no quarrel, he said.

    Kharge has great experience, ability and knowledge, he said. “I bring a different approach and I put that before the voters to see what they want. But, I do want to stress. We are all in this together.”

    On his Twitter handle, Tharoor said he was delighted to receive the endorsement of Telangana Congress working president and cricket legend Mohammed Azharuddin.

    “Azhar joins me in wanting change & reform in our party so as to better equip us to take on the BJP,” he tweeted.  Tharoor told reporters that irrespective of who emerges victorious, it would be the biggest victory for the Congress party.

    Asked about Kharge’s comments in favour of a consensus candidate, Tharoor described Kharge as a giant in the country’s politics and said both of them wished each other well during a telephonic conversation.

    On his comment favouring a public debate with Kharge, he said he was only responding to a question from a journalist. Tharoor said he was asked if he was prepared for a debate.

    There is no need to debate because they both agree on the party’s fundamental commitment to the ideas of India and the ideals enshrined in the Constitution, he said.

    To a question on the Gandhi family being neutral vis-a-vis the presidential election, he said they welcome a free and fair election and that they would stay neutral.

    On “G-23 group”, he said it was a “media creation”. Recalling past developments on that matter, he said a couple of senior leaders had written to the party high command on the desired reforms.

    Due to the COVID induced lockdown in 2020, he said only 23 people were available to affix their signatures, backing them.

    “That’s why 23 signed. It could have been 100. It could have been less, it could have been more. These were the people who were available to sign,” he said.

    When told that there is a possibility of a Dalit leader (Kharge) becoming Congress president after many years if he withdraws from the contest, he said he sees Kharge as a very great leader well beyond any question of caste identity.

    He said he would reach out to the voting delegates across the country once their phone numbers are available on Wednesday.

    Former Union Minister M M Pallam Raju visited Tharoor. The polling for the Congress presidential election is scheduled to be held on October 17. The counting of votes would be taken up on October 19 and the results are expected the same day. More than 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates form the electorate.