Congress President Poll Results Updates: Kharge Calls for United Fight Against 'Fascist Forces'; Tharoor Says 'Batted on Uneven Pitch'

Veteran politician Mallikarjun Kharge swept the Congress’ 20th Presidential elections on Wednesday, defeating Shashi Tharoor by a massive margin, becoming the first non-Gandhi chief of the party in two decades and the sixth in the party’s 137-year-old history. READ MORE

Mallikarjun Kharge is Congress’ 20th President since independence and first non-Gandhi president in 24 years.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said the party held elections after 22 years and there was “bound to be glitches,” in reference to his earlier tweet alleging “irregularities” in the conduct of the election in Uttar Pradesh. “Our party didn’t hold polls for 22 years. In elections of this nature, there were bound to be glitches. Leadership by and large stayed with Mr Kharge, it’s not surprising if you’ve chosen between change and continuity and if you’re part of continuity why did you want change,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed best wishes to Congress president-elect Mallikarjun Kharge. “My best wishes to Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji for his new responsibility as President of @INCIndia. May he have a fruitful tenure ahead,” he said in a tweet.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, “We were never an organization of a dissenter. We had a policy in mind so we wrote that letter and I still stick to those points. Many left me in that fight.”

Congress President candidate and senior leader Shashi Tharoor said he batted on an uneven pitch after he lost to his colleague Mallikarjun Kharge. Addressing the media, he said: “I was not a candidate of dissent. I was a candidate for a change. I want more involvement of congress Karyakartas. Change is not in policy or ideology but operational level.” He further said, “senior leadership decided to stay with Mr kharge so they decided to be with continuity.” Reiterating his earlier statement on unequal ground for the polls, he said, “I batted on an uneven pitch” and was “only cautious” about “ball tampering”, in a reference to the earlier statement on irregularities.

Mallikarjun Kharge, who was declared winner of the Congress president polls today, said, “We all have to work like workers of the party, nobody is big or small in the party. We have to unitedly fight against the fascist forces that are attacking the democratic institutions under the garb of communalism.”

Congress President-elect Mallikarjun Kharge said noted Sonia Gandhi’s “personal sacrifices” and said the outgoing party chief gave her blood and sweat to the party for two decades. “She revived the party and strengthened it. Her tenure will be remembered,” he said.

Congress President-elect Mallikarjun Kharge will take charge on October 26, said party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.

Newly-elected Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge conveys wishes to his colleague Shashi Tharoor and said: “We both were contenders but everything went smoothly. He came to visit me and we discussed the future of the party. I want to thank him.”

‘Congress has a history of strengthening democracy’, says newly-elected Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. “Today when democracy is in danger, every institute is at threat, once again Congress has set an example of democracy by conducting a successful election.”

Newly elected Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge addresses the media from his residence.

Newly-elected Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge will make a press statement at his residence 10 Raja ji Marg, New Delhi shortly.

It’s a moment of pride that Mallikarjun Kharge became Congress President, he is an experienced leader. Congress will strengthen under his leadership, and our party is united across the country: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in a cryptic tweet quoting 13th-century Persian poet Rumi’s verse wrote, “If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?” Mallikarjun Kharg was declared winner of the Congress president poll after defeating Tharoor. While Kharge got 7,897 votes, Tharoor received 1,072 votes.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hailed newly-elected AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s sweeping win in the party president polls and said he is a “shining symbol of social empowerment inspired by Nehru, Ambedkar, Indira Gandhi and Devaraj Urs.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated party chief-elect Mallikarjun Kharge after he was declared the winner in AICC polls. “Congratulations to Mallikarjun Kharge ji on being elected as the President of @INCIndia. The Congress President represents a democratic vision of India. His vast experience and ideological commitment will serve the party well as he takes on this historic responsibility,” he said in a tweet.

Outgoing Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party’s General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra congratulated newly elected party president Mallikarjun Kharge. The duo also met his wife Radhabai Kharge.

Congress veteran Mallikarjun Kharge will take over the reins of the party from Sonia Gandhi following an easy contest for the top post with underdog Shashi Tharoor. The 80-years-old leader’s tenure will begin at a difficult time for Congress as it is breathing for survival with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s juggernaut winning back to back elections from the states to the national level and regional parties securing its lost ground. READ MORE

Shashi Tharoor greets newly elected Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at the latter’s residence, in New Delhi, Wednesday. Out of the total 9,385 votes, Kharge received 7,897 while his opponent, Shashi Tharoor garnered 1,072 votes. A total of 416 votes have been counted as invalid. (PTI Photo)