Congress President Elections Live Updates: Veteran leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor filed their nominations for the Congress party president on Friday, 30 September, the last day for filing nominations.
Digvijay Singh, who was also in the running for the post until Friday morning, backed out of the race after the entry of Kharge.
"I met Kharge ji yesterday to tell that I will not contest if he is planning to, he is my leader. He told me yesterday that he is not willing to. Today, I came to know from the press that he is a contender. So, I met him today morning to convey that if he is contending, I won't," Singh told the media. He said that he will become the proposer for Kharge instead.
Kharge entered the race on Thursday after Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot announced his decision to not contest amid the political turmoil in the state.
Shashi Tharoor visited Raj Ghat ahead of filing nomination on Friday, 30 September.
(Photo: Shashi Tharoor/Twitter)
Mallikarjun Kharge will reportedly step down as Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha in accordance with the 'one person one post' rule
Shashi Tharoor visited Raj Ghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi ahead of filing the nomination
Following Ashok Gehlot's apology, reports suggested the Congress high command would take a decision on his chief ministership
After the Rajasthan CM's meeting with Sonia Gandhi, his arch-rival Sachin pilot met her too
Shashi Tharoor Submitted 5 Forms, Kharge 14
Madhusudan Mistry, Congress' Central Election Authority chairman said that Mallikarjun Kharge submitted 14 forms and Shashi Tharoor submitted five.
"We'll scrutinise the forms and we will announce the status of the forms in terms of their validity by tomorrow evening," he said.
'Appeal to All Supporters to Vote for Me': Kharge After Filing Nomination
After filing his nomination, Mallikarjun Karge said: "I have filed my nomination today. All the leaders, workers, delegates, and state leaders were here and encouraged me. I thank them all. I thank all those who encouraged me and supported me."
"I want to appeal to all the delegates and voters to vote for me and help me win. I want to keep fighting the fight for the Congress party. I have been associated with its ideology since I was a child. As a school student, I would paste messages and posters for the party on walls. The country needs to uphold the values of Nehru and Ambedkar. I remember ho Indira Gandhi had supported the masses when she came to Gulbarga," he added.
Kharge's Nomination is Welcome, Says Tharoor
Reacting to Kharge's nomination, rival Shashi Tharoor said that many candidates are needed for the party's benefit.
"I won't let down workers from around the country who've gone out of their ways to extend their support to me," Tharoor was quoted as saying by ANI.
Saying that the Gandhi family will stay neutral in the contest, the MP from Kerala added that the race is "not to disrespect anyone," and that it's "a friendly contest."
Kharge Files Nomination for Congress President
Mallikarjun Kharge has filed his nomination for the post of Congress president.