Gehlot and Tharoor might contest for post of Congress President

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, and MP of Thiruvananthapuram and one of the leaders of Congress rebel group G23, Shashi Tharoor, might contest for the top position of the Congress party.

After Rahul Gandhi made it clear that he is not interested to become the president of Indian National Congress, the high command asked Ashok Gehlot to become the new president of the party. However, making things difficult for Gehlot, the leader of the rebel group in the Congress, Shashi Tharoor have dropped hints that he might contest for the post. If Tharoor decides to contest, then an election is inevitable.

Gehlot might submit his nomination between 24th and 30 of September. Sonia Gandhi has welcomed the decision of Tharoor for contesting the elections during a meeting with him in Delhi yesterday. Some Congress leaders have said that Rahul Gandhi too welcomed Tharoor’s decision.

Meanwhile, AICC General Secretary, Jairam Ramesh, said that Rahul Gandhi has always maintained his decision that whoever wants to contest the election is free to do so.

Shashi Tharoor reached Delhi for talks with Sonia Gandhi after supporting a letter written by 650 young Congress leaders to Sonia Gandhi demanding changes in the Congress party. Tharoor tweeted that he is delighted that the demands of the 650 young leaders are being met. He also shared the copy of the letter sent to Mrs. Gandhi by the leaders.

The demands of the 650 congress leaders were the same demands as of the rebel group, G23, of which Tharoor is a part. The main demand listed in the letter is to implement the Udaipur Declaration, which includes conducting elections according to rules, one candidate to contest from a family, one position for one person, 5 years tenure for every post, etc.

The letter also asked Sonia Gandhi to implement the scheduled caste, schedule tribe, OBC, and women reservations and to work for making the dream of secular India a reality.

Earlier, three PCCs had requested Rahul Gandhi to become the President of the Indian National Congress. With the progress of ‘Congress Jodo’ rally many more PCCs might press for this demand.

However, the rebel faction believes that this is a tactic to develop a consensus and avoid election to the top position. This prompted the young Congress leaders to shoot a letter to Sonia Gandhi.