“Told Shashi Tharoor…”: Mallikarjun Kharge on Congress’ forthcoming president election

New Delhi: One of the candidates for Congress’ upcoming party president elections and senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that he had told his party colleague and lawmaker Shashi Tharoor that ‘it is better to have a consensus candidate for the president’s post’. He further claimed that he only decided to participate in the polls after insistence from senior Congress leaders.

Citing his reason for running in the forthcoming elections he said, “As Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi didn’t want to fight the elections, I was asked by my senior colleagues to contest the elections. I’m not fighting against anyone. I’m fighting for the ideology of the Congress party”.

“The status quo and change that Dr Tharoor has been talking about will be decided by the delegates and the All India Congress Committee. One person will not be taking the calls, it’ll be taken collectively”, he added.

Speaking about his plan of action he explained, “I’m starting my election campaign on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. I’ve always fought and struggled for my ideology and ethics. I’ve been Leader of the Opposition, minister and MLA for several years. I want to fight again now and take forward those same ethics and ideology”.

“I am not contesting solely as a Dalit leader. I’m contesting as a Congress leader and will continue to do so”, Kharge said on his candidature.

For the not known, the inter-party election will be held on October 17 and votes will be counted on October 19.