Shashi Tharoor’s move comes ahead of the Congress’ internal elections to be held in October. file
New Delhi:
Shashi Tharoor, who hinted that he might run for Congress president in next month’s elections, met Sonia Gandhi today after she publicly supported the call for reforms in the party.
Sonia Gandhi, Interim Congress President, is back in Delhi after a medical examination abroad. Shashi Tharoor was among several Congress leaders who had come to meet him today, three days before the nomination for the Congress President’s post began.
Shashi Tharoor this morning supported a petition by a group of young members of the party, doubling down on the call for reform. The petition makes reference to the “Udaipur Declaration” adopted by the Congress in May, which commits to a five-year limit on party posts, apart from rules such as fair elections and one candidate per family and one person per post.
I welcome this petition which is being circulated by a group of youth @INCIndia The members are demanding constructive reforms in the party. It has collected over 650 signatures so far. I am happy to support it and go beyond it. https://t.co/2yPViCDv0vpic.twitter.com/waGb2kdbTu
— Shashi Tharoor (@shashi tharoor) September 19, 2022
The former Union minister said, “I welcome this petition, which is being circulated by a group of young Congress members seeking constructive reforms in the party. It has got over 650 signatures so far. Glad to support it and go beyond it.” deployment of.
There are signs the party is coming up with a prediction for a Gandhi at the top in its October internal election – despite the Congress announcing the election of a new chief.
Recently, the party asked its state units to request Sonia Gandhi to meet the state chiefs. Leaders of the “G-23” – the 23 who wrote to Sonia Gandhi in 2020 calling for internal reforms – suspect it is the creation of the Gandhi family retaining control of the party, with or without elections.
State by state Congress is backing Rahul Gandhi for president, although the party’s central election body says there will be a contest. Congress units in Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir and Tamil Nadu have urged Rahul Gandhi to take charge again after three years of the party’s electoral defeat. More states may follow. For many, it is the choreographed preamble to every such election in Congress – a sign of consensus rather than a vote.
Mr. Tharoor, a prominent member of “G-23”, has not ruled out contesting in these elections. He is among the leaders who have urged the party to make public the list of voters in the Congress Presidential election.
“I have only welcomed the fact that there will be an election. I believe it is very good for the party. It is certainly gratifying that this general statement of democratic principle has attracted a large number of people across the country. I have welcomed the prospect. About my contesting elections. But as I have made it clear, I have not announced my candidature,” he told news agency PTI.
“I am hopeful that many people will contest elections to give a wider choice to the membership. So far I have neither ruled myself nor dismissed myself,” the former Union minister said.
Congress will accept nominations between September 24 and 30. If necessary, the election will be held on October 17 and the results will be declared two days later.
For the first time in 22 years, there is a contest for the top post of the party. The last Congress election in which Gandhi was challenged was in 2000, when veteran Jitendra Prasad lost to Sonia Gandhi.