Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is contesting for the post of party president, on Saturday said he wants to be the voice of the youth and stressed on giving importance to party workers.
The Lok Sabha member from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala is engaged in a “friendly” contest with Mallikarjun Kharge for the top post.
Tharoor said he does not think the new President will be a rubber stamp. If someone says that Gandhi family is not needed then he is a fool.
“It is a friendly contest, we have different objectives and we are seeking support (in the Congress Presidential election). Many workers who want change in the party have asked me to contest elections. I want to be the voice of youth. I will give my good account,” said Tharoor in Nagpur.
“We give respect to big leaders but the time has come to listen to the youth in the party. We will work to change the organizational structure of the party and party workers should be given this importance.
Read also: Is Tharoor the new Jitendra Prasad? Gandhi’s nod to Kharge bares democracy myth, power dynamics
Tharoor said that K Kharge has good self-confidence but he has the support of party workers from different states. “The confidence of Mallikarjun Kharge is good. I am sure there are some people who will listen to me as well. Big leaders can naturally stand with other big leaders in the party, but I have party workers from different states with me.
Tharoor began his campaign for the election of the party president by visiting the Deekshabhoomi memorial in Nagpur, Maharashtra. He also said that he was told by the Gandhi family that there was no “official” candidate in the election of the party president and that he would remain neutral.
“I met all three (Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka) of the Gandhi family. He repeatedly told me that there is no official candidate for the election of party president and there will be no such candidate. They want a good and fair election. The Gandhi family will remain neutral and the party machinery will be neutral. They want a good election and want to strengthen the party. I have no doubts when the party president assured me,” Tharoor replied on whether Kharge was the choice of the Gandhi family and their preferred candidate.
The process of filing nominations for organizational elections began on September 24 and ended on September 30. Congress will elect its president on October 17. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 8 and the counting of votes will take place on October 19.
Tharoor was one of the outspoken voices of G-23 Congress leaders who had sent letters to Sonia Gandhi demanding comprehensive reforms in the party and transparency in the decision-making process.
“I will bring a new spirit to the party. It’s true that I was with the G23 group. Everyone knows that most of the people of G23 are with Kharge.
Tharoor joined the Congress in 2009 and is a three-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram. That all. is also the chairman of India Professionals Congress (AIPC).
The Congress MP said that all the opposition parties will come together for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and work on a common minimum programme.
Tharoor served twice as a Union Minister for brief periods, as Minister of State for External Affairs (MoS) from May 2009 to April 2010 and as Minister of State for Human Resource Development from October 2012 to May 2014. He has authored over 20 books and served in the United Nations for nearly 30 years in various capacities.
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