Success Of Shah’s Rally In Baramulla Shows Changing Face Of J-K

For the first time after three decades, a Union Minister went to Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir to hold a rally.
On October 5, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a rally in Baramulla. Sources said Shah’s rally got a phenomenal response from the people of the district.

As per the sources present in the rally, the highest cheering was witnessed when the Home Minister spoke about the availability of free gas cylinders for women. It is also reported that in the hilly areas of the Union Territory, women registered to get the Ujjwala scheme benefit and got two cylinders instead of one.

“The development of Jammu and Kashmir is the prime agenda of the PM Modi government at the Centre. BJP does not wish to ally with any of the regional players in J-K,” a top BJP source told ANI.

Another source told ANI that, “the briefing given to the security agencies in the region is to ensure complete wipe out of terrorism and its supporters.”

The changing face of Jammu and Kashmir was evident from the fact that crowds turned up in huge numbers and it was a responsive gathering. “The entire gathering of over 40,000 joined in as the Home Minister shouted the slogan ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. Something that had never been said here, the source added.

Shah met the family of a slain police officer in Jammu and Kashmir. On the request of the family members, Union Home Minister took a call within seconds to scale a steep hill to pay floral tributes to the actual grave of the officer and meet an old relative.

“That shows what means to the Modi government as far as people of Jammu and Kashmir and the sentiments are concerned,” sources said.

The Election Commission of India has already prepared the electoral roll and is in the process of its corrections which sources said could be completed in the next couple of months as a substantial number of new voters are likely to be added to the J-K voter list.

“The Modi government’s stand remains the same. There will be no talks with Pakistan or Pakistan sympathizers,” the sources further said.

Only time will say whether BJP, which has broken records in several places including the northeast where they did not have any presence at all, is able to repeat the same performance in Jammu and Kashmir when the election will be held eventually. However, the Baramulla rally appears to be like another glass ceiling has been broken. (ANI)

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BJP MP Sambit Patra Rahul Gandhi

Shows Their Anti-Tribal Mindset: Patra On Udit Raj’s Remark On Murmu

Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Thursday slammed Congress leader Udit Raj’s remarks on President Droupadi Murmu and said that it showed the party’s “anti-tribal mindset”.

Udit Raj had accused President Murmu on Wednesday of allegedly doing ‘chamchagiri’ with his controversial remarks about her.
“No country should get a President like Droupadi Murmu ji. Chamchagiri also has its limits. She says 70 per cent of the people eat Gujarat’s salt. She will get to know once she starts living by consuming salt only,” Udit Raj said in his tweet in Hindi.

BJP’s Sambit Patra said that the kind of words Udit Raj has used for the President are indecent, sad, and worrying.

He further said that it is not the first time that the Congress party has used such words for the President. Prior to this incident, we have heard the words Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has used for her, when a tribal woman has become the President of the country, he said.

“It is surprising and saddening how Congress is regularly using disrespectful words for the President of India who has struggled enough to reach the topmost position of the country and it shows their mentality,” Patra said adding that it “exposes their anti-tribal mindset”.

He further sought an apology from the party as to why they have such psychology for the country’s first tribal president.

Udit Raj’s remarks came days after President Murmu noted in a civic reception hosted by the Government of Gujarat in her honour in Gandhinagar on Monday that the state produces 76 per cent of the country’s salt and on a lighter note said that “the salt produced in Gujarat is consumed by all Indians” (yah kaha jaa sakta hai ki sabhi deshwasi Gujarat kaa namak khate hain).

Meanwhile, BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla also took a jibe at the party and asked if the Congress party endorsed such behaviour.

Launching a scathing attack, Poonawalla said this was the real ‘Chaal Charitra Chehara’ of the Congress which has time and again insulted India’s first woman Adivasi President.

Recounting how Congress leader Ajoy Kumar had labelled Murmu ji as one having an “evil mindset” and how Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary called her “Rashtrapatni”, Poonawalla said that if the Congress was against this language of calling the highest constitutional post holder a “chamcha”, would they sack Udit Raj? Would Rahul and Sonia Gandhi condemn this statement?”

Poonawalla further added, “it is unlikely that they would (condemn it) as such statements are applauded by the first family which ensured the defeat of Babasaheb Ambedkar twice and ensured that Bhagwan Birsa Munda never got his due.”

He also accused Congress of having “deep-seated hatred for Adivasis and Dalits” and said, “Droupadi Murmu ji rose up through sheer hard work and commitment despite her challenging socio-economic circumstances and became a people’s President but Congress cannot accept this.” (ANI)

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Elections In J-K

Elections To Be Held In J-K After Voters’ List Compilation: Shah

In a major announcement, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir will “full transparency” as soon as the work of compiling the voters’ list is completed.

Shah said that manner in which delimitation has been done in the region, representatives of the people’s choice will be elected.
“As soon as the work of compiling the voters’ list is completed, elections will be held in J&K with full transparency. Earlier the delimitation was done in such a way that only the representatives from the three families would be elected, no matter what you do. The delimitation that Election Commission has done, your own representatives will win the elections and rule,” Shah said while addressing a rally in Baramulla on the last day of his three-day visit to J-K.

Assembly polls to elect the government in the Union Territory are due since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019. The Centre while abrogating the special status of the region, had said that the status of state will be given to Jammu and Kashmir at the appropriate time and the elections will be held after delimitation.

The orders of the Delimitation Commission were effective from May 20 with the Centre choosing the day for the move using powers of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

As per the final Delimitation Order, out of the 90 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) in Jammu and Kashmir, 43 will be part of the Jammu region and 47 for the Kashmir region keeping in view the provisions of Section 9(1)(a) of the Delimitation Act, 2002 and Section 60(2)(b) of Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019.

The Delimitation Commission was entrusted with the work of delimiting the Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir on the basis of the 2011 Census and in accordance with the provisions of Part-V of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019) and the provisions of Delimitation Act, 2002(33 of 2002).

Earlier today, Shah chaired a security review meeting with senior officials in Srinagar.

J-K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and other senior officials were present at the meeting including J-K Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, top officials of the Army, paramilitary forces, state police and civil administration.

Before concluding his visit to the Union Territory, Shah will also launch and lay foundation stones for various development projects in Srinagar around 3.30 pm.

Earlier on Tuesday, the home minister visited the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra where he offered prayers. Notably, this was Shah’s first visit to the holy shrine after being appointed the Home Minister of the Modi government 2.0. His visit, during which he was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Union Minister Jitendra Singh, coincided with the ninth day of the ongoing Navratri festival. (ANI)

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Amit Shah In J-K

Amit Shah In J-K: They Tell Us Talk To Pak, I Say…

Lambasting the National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on their demands that the Centre should talk to Pakistan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that he would prefer to talk to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir rather than talking to the neighboring country.

Addressing a public meeting here, on the last day of his three-day visit to the Union Territory which would conclude today, Shah launched an unsparing attack on former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.
He accused the ‘Gupkar alliance’ of “laying a red carpet” for Pakistani terrorists into the country.

Shah said, “Some people talk about Pakistan here. I want to tell them today, bring the statistics about the number of villages in PoK that have electricity. Electricity has reached every village in our Kashmir. “Mufti and Company, and Abdullah and Sons ruled Kashmir for 70 years but did not provide 1 lakh houses, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from 2014 till 2022, has given houses to 1 lakh people in J-K.”

“Those who ruled for 70 years here suggest me to talk to Pakistan.” I have a clear view, I do not want to talk to Pakistan, I want to talk to the Gujjars, Paharis, and Bakarwals in Baramulla. I want to talk to the youth of Kashmir. Think with open eyes and minds, those who spread terrorism, what good have they done to Kashmir?” he said adding that J-K has to join the race with other states which are moving ahead in the country.

“We do not have to follow the path shown by terrorists. I urge you to extend your support to us,” said the Home Minister.

Shah said that the “Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration model” (PAGD) had presented the youth of the region with stones, closed colleges and machine guns in their hands, whereas Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s model has brought them education.

PAGD is a political alliance between the six regional parties in J-K formed by Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. The alliance seeks the restoration of Article 370 and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

“There are two models. One of PM Modi which gives employment, peace and brotherhood; and another is the Gupkar model which led to the Pulwama attack. PM Modi made a hospital in Pulwama at an expense of Rs 2,000 crore. The Gupkar model is laying the red carpet for the Pakistani terrorists into the country, whereas the Modi model is implementing an investment of Rs 56,000 crore on the ground giving employment to the youth. Gupkar model placed stones, closed colleges, and machine guns in the hands of the youth. Modi model has IIM, IIT, AIIMS, NIFT, and NEET for the youth. The youth wants education not stones in their hands,” he said.

Shah asked the former chief ministers about the amount that was brought into the region as an investment during their respective tenures.

“I have come today to ask Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti how much investment did you draw in Jammu and Kashmir during the 70-year rule of the three families. How many industries were set up? How many youths were given employment? An investment of merely Rs 15,000 crore was done here in 70 years. PM Modi has brought an investment of Rs 56,000 crore in these three years in the region,” he said.

Shah further accused the “three families” of J-K of being responsible for the killings of the residents of the region by terrorists.

“Has terrorism done any good to anybody in the world? Can the sympathisers of terrorism tell of any such incident? 42,000 people of J-K have been victims of terrorism from 1990 till today. Who is responsible for their deaths? The three families that ruled here were responsible. Terrorism is moving towards extinction,” he said.

Lauding PM Modi for bringing investment into J-K, Shah said that the region which was known to be a “terrorist hotspot” has now become a “tourism hotspot”.

“Earlier, this was a terrorist hotspot, now it’s a tourism hotspot. You (Farooq and Mehbooba) gave stones and guns in the hands of the youth, whereas PM Modi gave laptops and mobiles into their hands by bringing industries here,” Shah said. (ANI)

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Mehbooba Alleges House Arrest, Police Says She Is Free To Travel

Amid Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday claimed that she was under house arrest and was prevented from attending a wedding in Pattan town in the Baramulla district. Srinagar Police, however, refuted the allegation.

“While HM is going around Kashmir beating drums of normalcy, I am under house arrest for simply wanting to visit Pattan for a worker’s wedding. If an ex-CM’s fundamental rights can be suspended so easily, one can’t even imagine the plight of a commoner,” Mufti wrote on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/MehboobaMufti/status/1577511109632094215

Responding to Mehbooba Mufti’s tweet, Srinagar Police posted on its Twitter handle: “It is clarified that no restriction of any kind travel to Pattan, travel to Pattan was at 1 pm as intimated to us. The picture tweeted by her is of the inside of the gate with its own lock of residents who stay in the bungalow. There is no lock or any restrictions. She is free to travel.”

Mehbooba Mufti then responded with the tweet, “I was informed last night by SP Baramulla Rayees Mohammad Bhat that I wouldn’t be allowed to travel to Pattan. Today Jammu and Kashmir police have themselves locked my gates from inside & are now lying through their teeth. Sad that law enforcement agencies are brazenly trying to cover up their tracks.”

Amit Shah arrived in Jammu on Tuesday and offered prayers at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra.

This is the second visit by Amit Shah to Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 by the Modi government in August 2019.

Meanwhile, Shah met people from different communities including Gujjar-Bakarwal, Rajput, Pahari, and Jammu Sikh Community on Tuesday.

On the second day of his visit today (October 5) Shah held a meeting with senior officials to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)

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BJP's Pankaja Munde On Dussehra Rallies

Our Rally Is Not Political: BJP’s Pankaja Munde On Dussehra Rallies

Maharashtra BJP leader and former minister Pankaja Munde on Wednesday said that she would like to hear both Shiv Sena factions in their respective Dussehra rallies and extend good wishes to them.

Talking to the media, Pankaja Munde said that her party’s rally is not political but for the common people of society.
Notably, the Dussehra rallies of Eknath Shinde-led Sena and Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena are to be held today at different venues in Maharashtra after a months-long tug of war over the rally. The Bombay High Court ruled in favor of the Thackeray-led Sena faction and allowed them to hold the Dussehra rally at the Shivaji Park on September 23.

The tussle between the Shinde-led faction and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led faction was on for weeks and the decision came only after multiple brawls came to the fore.

“We talk about the subjects on which our supporters and unprivileged people expect from us. Our rally is not a political rally, but I would like to hear both factions. Let’s see on which issues they are going to talk,” Pankaja Munde said.

Pankaja Munde said that our rally is to be held in the crowded district, our rally is not for the political but for the common society.

Pankaja, talking about the real ‘Sena’ said that she would not speak anything about it. “I will not say anything about this as I consider myself too small to comment on it.”

There are three Dussehra rallies to be held in Maharashtra today, one in the Beed district and two in Mumbai.

Earlier on Monday, both the Shiv Sena factions released video trailers of the rally that would be conducted at two different venues in accordance with the court decision. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s led-faction was seen drawing parallels between both groups.

Releasing a video on a social media platform, the group called for people’s presence in numbers at Bombay Kurla Complex. It also mentioned that national issues would be discussed during the gathering and inspirational speeches would be given that would last as an oxygen supply for one whole year. The teaser also stressed party workers and appreciation of their efforts.

Comparing the other side, the video made a veiled attack and showed words that the other section will focus on including betrayal, manhood, etc.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction will also hold a Dussehra rally at Shivaji park, Dadar. Their teaser starts with the voice of Uddhav Thackeray quoting Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj stating that one should never backstab but if one does then one should not be left alive.

Calling the event historic, the Shiv Sena leader stressed that he has nothing left for himself but only the power that people have given him. He further goes on to call the gathering a full-packed event of his “Thackeray family”, and says that every attendee has Bala Saheb Thackeray in their heart and the bond is unbreakable.

The video ends with excerpts of former CM Thackeray’s interview instructing the attendees on responsible and disciplined behavior during the celebrations at the rally. NCP leaders, on the other hand, aligned with the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction.

“There’ll be 2 Dussehra rallies in Maharashtra. One that will be as per the ideals of Bala Saheb Thackeray is a rally by Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. Though matter related to real Shiv Sena is pending with ECI, as per NCP, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena is real Shiv Sena,” said NCP leader M Tapse.

Earlier Shinde on Sunday said that they will not challenge the Bombay High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court for allowing the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction to hold the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.

“We respect the Bombay High Court’s decision and will not challenge it in the Supreme Court,” said Shinde. (ANI)

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BJP Telangana Govt

KCR To Announce National Party Tomorrow

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao will soon announce the details of his national agenda on the occasion of Dussehra.

According to the sources, it is strongly believed that CM KCR will announce the name of his national party on the occasion of Dussehra. TRS party’s meeting will be held on Dussehra, October 5 at Telangana Bhavan here, an official release from K. Chandrashekar Rao’s office said on Monday.
So there are speculations that KCR, may reveal the details of his approach toward national politics after the meeting. It is also believed that a delegation of TRS party leaders will leave for Delhi to change the name of the party. According to the sources, it is also believed that KCR will be addressing a public gathering on October 9 in the national capital.

A TRS leader Sreedhar Reddy said, “The people of the Nation are looking for a strong national platform as NDA failed in all aspects of governance”.

KCR spoke about the national platforms and going to the national level. He said that the Gujarat model failed utterly and the country is looking for a strong alternative.

“Wait and watch for the CM KCR to announce the name of the National party,” said Sreedhar Reddy.

On the other hand Telangana PCC Campaign Committee Chairman and EX-MP, Madhu Goud Yaskhi said, “It is a meaningless move by the CM of Telangana to form a national party. He has cheated the people of Telangana and now wants to cheat the people of the nation. This is just a cover-up of his failures and a tactic to divert the money from the Delhi liquor scam of his family members”.

“KCR is just trying to divide the opposition for the benefit of the BJP party.” Congress is the only way to a BJP-free country. If KCR wishes it, he should join Congress. However, the Congress does not want any alliance with the TRS party at the state level, “said Madhu Goud Yaskhi, Telangana PCC Campaign Committee Chairman.

BJP Rajyasabha MP Dr. Lakshman also retaliated and stated, “In a democracy, any political party at the national level or state level, everybody has the right to start the National party.”

“As KCR wants to start the National Party on the occasion of Dussehra, I want to question KCR whether the promises that were made to the people of Telangana are unfulfilled. There is a lot of anger among the people of Telangana among all the groups of people,” he added. (ANI)

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TRS General Body

TRS General Body Meet To Be Held On Schedule: KCR

TRS chief and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said on Monday that the party’s general body meeting would be held as per the schedule on October 5 (Dussehra) at the Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad.

Rao said the notification for the bye-election to the Munugode assembly seat would not affect the meeting. He reiterated that the general body meeting will be held at 11 am on October 5 as announced earlier. Party leaders are requested to attend the meeting within the specified time, according to an official statement.
The statement did not specify the agenda of the meeting, but reports have said that Rao, popularly known as KCR, is toying with the idea of launching a national party.

On Saturday, BJP leader K Lakshman targeted KCR, saying he is launching a national party only to divert public attention from the unfulfilled promises of his government.

“The promises he made to the people of Telangana are unfulfilled. All groups of people are angry with him. All corruption charges across the country have their roots in Hyderabad. So to divert the public attention, TRS is trying to showcase itself as a national party. It is a corrupt party ruled by a family,” Lakshman said.

“As KCR is going to launch a national party, I want to ask him, what exactly are you trying to show to the country that you are running a family-ruled party and you want to take the corruption across the country?” he said, adding that the AIMIM has the “steering” of the TRS government.

On Monday, the Election Commission announced the schedule for bye-elections to seven assembly constituencies in Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar, Telangana, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.

The EC said in a statement that the notification will be issued on October 6. While the polling will take place on November 3, the results will be declared on November 6. (ANI)

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Akhilesh Politicising Kanpur Acccident

Akhilesh Is Politicising Kanpur Accident: BJP MP

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh Ashok Bajpai on Monday slammed SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for saying that the Kanpur accident was due to bad roads and added that instead of expressing grief, he was politicizing the incident.

Speaking to ANI, Ashok Bajpai said, “Instead of expressing grief over the Kanpur accident, Akhilesh Yadav is playing politics on it and I think it does not suit him.” The accident was unfortunate.”
Bajpai further slammed Akhilesh Yadav and said that during Yadav’s government, the entire road had potholes.

“During Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh there were no potholes in the road, the entire road was covered with potholes. It is now that the conditions of roads have improved and are one of the best in the state,” the BJP MP told ANI.

BJP Upper House MP from Uttar Pradesh further told ANI, “I feel pity for Akhilesh Yadav because most roads have been constructed under the Bharatiya Janata Party government, whether it is the government of Uttar Pradesh or the central government. Be it the construction of national highways or expressways or local roads, such large-scale roads were never built after independence”.

“I would like to inform Akhilesh Yadav that special attention has been paid to the quality of the construction of the road during BJP rule,” he added

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday attacked the ruling BJP over road accidents in Uttar Pradesh, alleging that the Kanpur tragedy was a result of the poor condition of roads in the state.

In a statement issued from the SP headquarters on Sunday, Akhilesh alleged that the road accident victims are not even getting ambulances under the BJP government. He also alleged that the injured in the Kanpur incident, in which 26 people lost their lives, were taken to hospital on motorcycles.

Akhilesh said that roads across UP are in shambles and are marred with potholes. (ANI)

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Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge

All Cong Leaders United To Fight Against BJP, RSS: Kharge

Congress leader and MP Mallikarjun Kharge, one of the candidates in the party’s presidential election, on Sunday made it clear that the G23 camp no longer exists and all leaders are united to fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Asserting that he has not entered the polls to oppose anyone, Kharge announced his “official start” to the election campaign on Sunday.
“There is no G23 camp now. All leaders (of G23) want to work together to stay united and fight against BJP-RSS. This is the reason they are supporting me,” said Kharge.

He further said that he is contesting for the Congress president post because senior leaders of the party encouraged him to contest.

“Many senior leaders of the party have supported my nomination for Congress president post. Many leaders of the party told me that I should contest the elections. Due to their encouragement, I am contesting the elections today,” said Congress MP.

Kharge, who entered the fray in the eleventh hour, was seen flanked by Manish Tewari, Anand Sharma, Prithviraj Chavan, and Bhupinder Hooda when he submitted the form for the presidential race.

G-23 leaders had written to Sonia Gandhi in August 2020 seeking structural changes in the party and even questioned the process of electing 9000-odd delegates who make up the electoral college of the Congress president.

Notably, the 80-year-old leader had received support from nearly 30 Congress leaders, including Deepender Hooda, Salman Khurshid, Ashok Gehlot, Digvijaya Singh, Manish Tewari, Prithviraj Chavan, and several others.

“The day I filed my nomination, I submitted my resignation from my post, aligning with the ‘One Person, One Post’ decision of the party taken in Udaipur. “I officially begin my campaign for the post of Congress party president today,” Kharge said while addressing a press conference with other three Congress leaders, Gourav Vallabh, Deepender S. Hooda, and Syed Naseer Hussain, here.

Kharge tendered his resignation as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha on Saturday as he filed nomination papers to contest the post of president of his party a day before.

Apart from Kharge, G23 leader Shashi Tharoor has also filed his nomination for the post.

Gourav Vallabh also announced his resignation from the post of the official spokesperson of the party to campaign for Kharge in Congress’ internal elections.

“All three of us (Congress leaders Gourav Vallabh, Deepender S Hooda, and Syed Naseer Hussain) resigned from the post of official spokespersons to campaign for the election of Mallikarjun Kharge as party president and want this election to be free and fair,” Vallabh said.

Congress Central Election Authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry said that a total of 20 nomination forms were received on Friday and added that the Gandhi family is not supporting any candidate for the party president’s post.

Mistry added that 14 nominations were received from Mallikarjun Kharge, five from Shashi Tharoor, and one from Jharkhand Congress leader KN Tripathi.

However, Tripathi’s nomination for the Congress presidential election was rejected on Saturday due to signature issues.

He further said that the two current contenders for the post of Congress President include Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor.

Mistry said that the candidates were in the fray of their own volition and Gandhis are neutral in this contest and are not supporting anyone.

Tharoor on Saturday drew an analogy between the Gandhi family and the DNA of the party and said that no party chief can distance himself from the Gandhi family, asserting that he is contesting the party’s presidential elections to bring a ” change” in the grand old party.

He stressed that the contest between him and Kharge is “not a battle” and it should be left upon the Congress workers to choose between the duo.

Tharoor and Kharge are up against each other in the race for the post of Congress president.

Digvijaya Singh pulled out from the race on Friday (the last day to file nominations) and extended his support to Kharge, who he said is a senior and respected leader of the party, and against whom he “cannot think of contesting”.

Singh was the second Congress leader to pull out of the race after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced he would not contest the elections following the political turmoil in his state.

With the Gandhis not running for the top post, the grand old party is all set to get a non-Gandhi president after over 25 years.

The results of the party polls will be declared on October 19. (ANI)

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