Tag: Congress President

Kharge Cong Chief post

Kharge Likely To File Nomination For Cong Chief Post Today

By LokMarg

Congress veteran Mallikarjun Kharge will join the contest for Congress president, according to sources who have said that the Leader of Opposition in the Raja Sabha is likely to file his nomination for the party’s top post today.

The contest for the post will then be likely to be between Kharge, Digvijaya Singh, and Shashi Tharoor, they said.
Nominations for the post of Congress president close at 3 pm today and results will be declared on October 19.

“Kharge is likely to file his nomination with one section of the Gandhi loyalists approaching him to contest the polls. However, the final decision will be taken shortly,” said the sources.

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

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was being seen as a frontrunner in the race before he opted to pull out after meeting with Sonia Gandhi on Thursday. Addressing media persons in the national capital after the meeting Gehlot said that he had apologised to her for the scenario emerging in the state triggered by his loyalists.

After announcing his decision to contest in the upcoming Congress presidential polls, veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that the Nehru-Gandhi family will remain their leader whosoever becomes the president of the party.

According to the sources, Manish Tewari, a face of the G-23 group of leaders (those seeking reforms in the party) is also mulling over filing the nomination for the top post.

G-23 leaders Thursday evening met at the residence of Anand Sharma. Former union minister Manish Tewari, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda were present at the meeting.

According to sources, the leaders discussed the whole situation emerging in the run-up to the Congress presidential polls. The leaders will meet again.

“Nobody has filed a nomination yet. Once it is done, there will be contemplation. The democratic process has begun. BS Hooda, Anand Sharma, Prithviraj Chavan and I sat for deliberation and discussed events,” Manish Tewari said while leaving Anand Sharma’s residence.

Asked whether G-23 will support candidates whose names have come for Congress presidential poll so far, Tewari said, “Days pass between collecting, filing and withdrawing nomination papers. The decision will be taken at that time. In English, it is called in politics ‘it is the preponderance of probabilities’. Let us see what happens tomorrow.”

The G-23 leaders had written to Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi seeking organisational overhaul and internal elections at all levels.

“It is good that polls are being held in the party in a democratic way. We thanked Sonia Gandhi for the free-fair polls. Let us see who will file the nomination. We have heard a few names. We will support the best candidate in the field,” Prithviraj Chavan told ANI.

The remarks of the G23 leaders indicate that they do not possibly see Shashi Tharoor representing their voice in the election. (ANI)

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Digvijaya Drops Out Of Cong Presidential Race

By LokMarg

In yet another twist in the tale of the Congress president polls, Digvijaya Singh on Friday said he was dropping out of the race for the top post and announced his support for Mallikarjun Kharge, who is likely to be in the fray.

Today is the last day to file nominations for the polls.
Singh had said on Thursday that he would file his nominations today. However, after reports of Kharge also mulling contesting the party’s internal polls, he decided to drop out of the contest.

Singh made the announcement after he met Kharge this morning at the latter’s residence.

Speaking to reporters here, Singh said he “cannot think of contesting an election” against a senior leader like Kharge.

“Kharge is my leader and my senior. I went to his residence yesterday and asked if he is contesting. If he does, I will not fill up the form. He said he did not intend to contest. I came to know through the media that he is a candidate. I went to meet him this morning. I said if he is filing the nomination, I am with him. He is a senior and respected leader of the party and I cannot think of contesting an election against him,” he said.

“If Kharge had told me earlier, he would not have gone to collect the form. Now he intends to file his nomination, I will become his proposer,” Singh added.

He said he will not compromise on his “commitment to the Nehru-Gandhi family”.

“I have always worked for Congress all my life and will continue to do so. I do not compromise on three things. First, Dalit, tribal and poor. Second, I do not compromise with those involved in disrupting communal peace. I will not compromise on my commitment to the Nehru-Gandhi family, neither have I ever done it,” he said.

The quick turn of events is taking place on the last day of the filing of the nominations which closes at 3 pm today.

Singh is 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.

Sources on Friday said that no leader from Congress’s “G-23” will file a nomination for the post of Congress president.

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said he will be the proposer for Kharge.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand Congress leader KN Tripathi said he will file his nomination at 1 pm today.

“I’ll file my nomination at 1 pm today (for the Congress president post). Rahul Gandhi and party chief Sonia Gandhi have said they’re neither requesting anyone to contest nor declining anyone…we want to see what the rank and file of the party wants,” he said.

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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Tharoor Congress Prez

Tharoor To File Nomination For Cong Prez Post Tomorrow

By LokMarg

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is scheduled to submit his nomination papers for the upcoming presidential elections of the All India Congress Committee on Saturday.

As per the information, Tharoor will visit 24 Akbar Road at 12.15 pm tomorrow.
He will subsequently hold a press conference at 1.00 pm at his residence on 97 Lodhi Estate (opposite Airforce Bal Bharti Public School)

Meanwhile, party leader Digvijaya Singh, another contender for the topmost position in the party, will also file his nomination tomorrow between 11 am and 3 pm.

Tharoor welcomed Singh’s candidacy and said that both of them have agreed to consider it a friendly contest.

“Received a visit from @digvijaya_28 this afternoon. I welcome his candidacy for the Presidency of our Party. We both agreed that ours is not a battle between rivals but a friendly contest among colleagues. All we both want is that whoever prevails, @incIndia will win!,” Tharoor tweeted.

Notably, another prominent contender for the President post in the party, Ashok Gehlot recently announced that he will not contest the elections.

“I met Rahul Gandhi in Kochi and requested him to fight the polls (for Congress President). When he didn’t accept, I said I’ll contest but now with that incident (political crisis in Rajasthan), I have decided not to contest the elections,” CM Gehlot said.

Gehlot’s remarks came after the veteran leader met with the party’s interim chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence at 10 Janpath in the national capital.

Rajasthan CM further apologized for the ruckus in Rajasthan triggered by his loyalists over a possible leadership change in the state after Gehlot was set to file his nomination papers for the Congress chief polls.

Gehlot said that whatever happened in the state in the past two days had shocked everyone.

On being asked if he will remain Rajasthan CM, Gehlot said, “I won’t decide that, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will decide that.”

“One-line resolution is our tradition. Unfortunately, a situation arose that resolution wasn’t passed. It was my moral responsibility (to pass the resolution), but despite being a CM I couldn’t get it passed,” he added.

Talking to reporters, Gehlot said the party works under the Congress president and decisions will be taken in the time to come.

He said Congress workers worry about the direction in which the country is heading and tackling the issue was more important. (ANI)

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Ashok Gehlot

Will Not Contest Cong Prez Polls: Gehlot

By LokMarg

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said that he will not fight for the post of Congress chief.

His remarks came after the veteran leader met with party’s interim chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence at 10 Janpath in the national capital.
“I met Rahul Gandhi in Kochi and requested him to fight the polls (for Congress President). When he didn’t accept, I said I’ll contest but now with that incident (political crisis in Rajasthan), I have decided not to contest the elections,” CM Gehlot said.

Gehlot also apologised for the ruckus in Rajasthan triggered by his loyalists over a possible leadership change in the state after Gehlot was set to file his nomination papers for the Congress chief polls.

Gehlot said that whatever happened in the state in the past two days had shocked everyone.

“I had a conversation with Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi. Whatever happened two days ago shocked us. It gave a message that all of it happened as I wanted to be CM. I apologised to her,” said CM Gehlot addressing the media persons after meeting Sonia Gandhi.

Further in his address to the media persons, Gehlot said that he won’t contest the elections in this atmosphere. “I won’t contest these elections in this atmosphere, with moral responsibility,” Gehlot said.

On being asked if he will remain Rajasthan CM, Gehlot said, “I won’t decide that, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will decide that.”

“One-line resolution is our tradition. Unfortunately, a situation arose that resolution wasn’t passed. It was my moral responsibility (to pass the resolution), but despite being a CM I couldn’t get it passed,” he added.

Talking to reporters, Gehlot said the party works under the Congress president and decisions will be taken in the time to come.

He said Congress workers worry about the direction in which the country is heading and tackling the issue was more important.

Also, today Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh collected his nomination papers and announced that he is likely to file his nominations tomorrow between 11 am to 3 pm.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has announced that he will submit his nomination for the post at 12.15 pm tomorrow.

The filing of nominations for the top Congress post will take place till September 30, and the election will take place on October 17. (ANI)

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Digvijaya Nomination

Digivijaya Will File Nomination For Cong Prez Tomorrow

By LokMarg

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday joined the race for the post of Congress President.

“Today I have come here to collect the nomination form and will possibly file it tomorrow,” Singh said outside his residence here today.
The former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh met with Rahul Gandhi in Kerala at the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and had arrived in the national capital late last evening.

Till now, only Shashi Tharoor has declared his candidature for the post.

The filing of nominations for the top Congress post will take place till September 30 and the election will take place on October 17. (ANI)

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Gehlot Meet Sonia

Gehlot To Visit Delhi, Meet Sonia

By LokMarg

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to meet Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi here on Wednesday afternoon following the rebellion by his party lawmakers in the state, in the run-up to the Congress presidential poll.

Rajasthan Minister Pratap Khachariyawas said today that Gehlot who is arriving in the national capital today and will meet Sonia Gandhi.
Congress is currently grappling with the political crisis in the state over leadership change after Gehlot emerged as the top contender in the party’s presidential polls for which the process of the nomination has already begun.

The party had issued notices to three loyalists of Ashok Gehlot over their actions in the political crisis in Rajasthan. However, the chief minister was not named for disciplinary action in the report.

The show cause notices have been issued to Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) Chairman Dharmendra Rathore, the party’s chief whip Mahesh Joshi, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal.

AICC in charge Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge had earlier submitted a written report to Sonia Gandhi that disciplinary action should be taken against the three Gehlot loyalists.

Maken and Kharge, who were appointed observers for the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party had to return from Jaipur after they could not meet MLAs individually to ascertain their views. A “parallel meeting” was held by the loyalists of Ashok Gehlot who are opposed to Sachin Pilot being elevated to the post of the chief minister.

Maken termed the “parallel meeting” as indiscipline and did not agree to other demands of the MLAs and ministers seen close to Gehlot.

On Tuesday, Gehlot held an informal meeting with a few ministers and party MLAs at his residence in Jaipur, sources said.

They said Forest and Environment Minister Sukhram Bishnoi, Minister of State for Home Rajendra Yadav, Minorities Minister Saleh Mohammad, Sports Minister Ashok Chandna, and MLAs Madan Prajapat, Rafiq Khan, Amin Kagzi, Khushveer Jojawar, Amit Chachan, Jagdish Jangid were present in the meeting.

Sachin Pilot, a former Deputy Chief Minister of the State has also come to Delhi.

The nomination process for election to Congress next president will continue till September 30 and the election results will be declared on October 19.

Amid the crisis, some other names, apart from Gehlot, have emerged as possible presidential candidates. (ANI)

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Gehlot Informal Meeting

Gehlot Holds Informal Meeting With Some Ministers, MLAs

By LokMarg

Amid the political crisis in the state, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot held an informal meeting with a few ministers and party MLAs at his residence here on Tuesday, sources said.

The sources said Forest and Environment Minister Sukhram Bishnoi, Minister of State for Home Rajendra Yadav, Minorities Minister Saleh Mohammad, Sports Minister Ashok Chandna, and MLAs Madan Prajapat, Rafiq Khan, Amin Kagzi, Khushveer Jojawar, Amit Chauhan, Jagdish Jangid were among those present.
The Congress is grappling with a political crisis in Rajasthan over leadership change after Gehlot emerged as the top contender in the party’s presidential polls, for which the process of nominations has already begun.

AICC in charge Ajay Maken and senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who were appointed observers for a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party could not meet MLAs individually to ascertain their views and a “parallel meeting” was held by loyalists of Ashok Gehlot who are opposed to Sachin Pilot being elevated to the post.

Maken termed the “parallel meeting” as indiscipline and did not agree to some other demands of MLAs and ministers seen close to Gehlot.

Maken and Kharge, who returned to Delhi from Jaipur on Monday, have given their written report to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Sachin Pilot, a former Deputy Chief Minister of State, has also come to Delhi.

The nomination process for election to Congress president will continue till September 30 and the results of the election will be declared on October 19. (ANI)

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Bringing Cong MLA

Sachin Pilot Denies Reports Of Bringing Cong MLAs Together

By LokMarg

Congress leader Sachin Pilot has denied media reports stating that he told the party high command that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot should not remain in office if he decides to contest the party presidential poll.

It was earlier reported quoting the sources that Pilot had told the high command that it is his responsibility to bring the MLAs together.
“Congress MLA Sachin Pilot has told the Congress high command that Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot should not remain CM if he decides to contest for the party president post & that it is his responsibility to bring MLAs together,” the sources had said.

Refuting the reports, the Congress leader said that says he has spoken neither with the party’s high command nor with Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot.

“Am afraid this is false news being reported”,” he tweeted.

Notably, Pilot is being seen as the successor of Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan which is engulfed by a political crisis triggered apparently by Gehlot agreeing to file his nomination in the Congress presidential polls and wanting a successor of his choice as CM in Rajasthan.

With party observers slamming some actions of loyalists of Chief Minister Gehlot, sources said the decision on issuing show cause notices to miffed MLAs, who have been vocal in public, will be taken after interim party chief Sonia Gandhi looks into the report by the observers sent to the state.

“Status-quo to be maintained till Congress president election nominations. Decision on issuing of show cause notices to miffed MLAs, vocal in public will be taken after interim chief takes action on a report by observers,” a source said.

Pilot had attended the CLP meeting called in Jaipur recently along with the MLAs of his camp in the presence of Central observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken. The MLAs of the Gehlot camp demanded that the next chief minister be chosen from the MLAs who stood by the party when Pilot allegedly revolted in 2020 against the Gehlot-led government.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan cabinet minister Shanti Dhariwal on Monday lashed out at Congress’ state in-charge Ajay Maken alleging that he was part of a “conspiracy” to remove Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Dhariwal, a Gehlot loyalist who had held a meeting of MLAs on Sunday to oppose Sachin Pilot’s possible elevation to the CM post, took a veiled swipe at Pilot and said that Rajasthan MLAs will not sit through and tolerate if traitors are being rewarded.

“It was a 100 per cent conspiracy to remove the CM (Ashok Gehlot) and the general secretary incharge was a part of it. I am not talking about anyone else, no charge on Kharge but only the General Secretary incharge,” said Dhariwal.

He further said that disgruntled lawmakers of Rajasthan asked him to “listen to their voice”.

“A general secretary is himself canvassing to make such people chief minister who betrayed the party and because of it, MLAs are angry and disgruntled. MLAs asked me to listen to their voice. They want someone from 102 MLAs who huddled together to stay with Congress for over 34 days (in 2020) to be made CM,” he added.

A legislative party meeting was scheduled on Sunday evening at the residence of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in the presence of the observers, which was attended by Sachin Pilot and his camp MLAs, the Gehlot loyalists had held a meeting with Cabinet Minister Shanti Dhariwal at his residence, following which over 90 MLAs had submitted their resignations to Speaker CP Joshi.

Earlier today, Congress MLAs supporting Sachin Pilot for Chief Minister’s post arrived at his residence in Jaipur.

“The party’s top leadership is restructuring the organisation for the 2023 elections here. Top leadership will decide (CM face),” said MLA Khiladi Lal Bairwa. (ANI)

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Tharoor To File Nomination For Cong President On Sept 30

By LokMarg

Senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor will file a nomination for the post of party President on September 30, as per sources.

Tharoor said, “He will be approaching delegates from various states as he has taken 5 sets of nomination papers, for which he’ll need 50 delegates as proposers for his candidature”.
This will be the first time in 25 years that Congress will see a non-Gandhi chief after Sonia Gandhi defeated Jitendra Prasad in 1998. The last time the party had a non-Gandhi chief was in 1996 when Sitaram Kesri defeated Sharad Pawar and Rajesh Pilot.

Chairman of Central Election Authority Madhusudan Mistri will be available in Congress headquarters in the national capital to take the nomination papers as returning officer of the election.

As per the notification released by the Congress Party, the aforesaid elections for the party’s new president are slated to be held on October 17 at all PCCs, whose results shall be announced on October 19, immediately after the counting of votes.

The final list of candidates will be released at 5 pm on October 8.

Mistry has called upon the delegates of the Congress party to elect the President of the Indian National Congress in accordance with the provisions made under Article 18.

However, there were speculations that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has expressed their willingness to contest for the party’s topmost position. But Gehlot cleared the air over his nomination for the All India Congress Committee (AICC) presidential election.

Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Friday said that he was not in the race for the party chief. Addressing a press conference in Jabalpur, the veteran leader said that he would not contest the Congress Presidential election, but he would follow the instruction given to him by the higher authority in the party.

There is an intense build-up to the Congress president election after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot confirmed his candidature on Friday. Gehlot also confirmed that Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that “no member of the Gandhi family” would become the next party chief.

Meanwhile, with Digvijay Singh’s clarification, Ashok Gehlot and Shashi Tharoor are the top contenders for the post now.

Describing the post of Congress president as an “ideological post”, Rahul Gandhi said the position “represents a set of ideas and belief system and vision of India”. (ANI)

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Congress President

Nominations For Congress President Poll Begins Today

By LokMarg

Filing of nominations for the post of Congress president is scheduled to begin today with a contest between Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and former union minister Shashi Tharoor on the cards.

The nominations will be filed till September 30 and results declaring the new Congress chief will be announced on October 19.
This will be the first time in 25 years that Congress will see a non-Gandhi chief after Sonia Gandhi replaced Sitaraman Kesri as party chief in 1998. The last time the party had a non-Gandhi chief was in 1997 when Sitaram Kesri defeated Sharad Pawar and Rajesh Pilot

Chairman of Central Election Authority Madhusudan Mistri will be available in Congress headquarters in the national capital to take the nomination papers as returning officer of the election.

Yesterday, Rajasthan chief minister Gehlot made it clear that there will be no candidate from the Gandhi family this time.

Speaking to ANI Gehlot said, “I have requested him (Congress MP Rahul Gandhi) multiple times to accept everyone’s proposal of becoming the Congress President. He clarified that no one from the Gandhi family should become the next chief.”

Gehlot further said, “It’s decided that I’ll contest (for the post of Congress President). I’ll fix the date soon (to file his nomination). It’s a need for the Opposition to be strong, looking at the current position of the country.

Earlier, after meeting Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, former CM of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, “In our meeting today, we spoke about the party and how to strengthen it. She said that she has a neutral stand regarding the congress president election.”

Till now, Gehlot has made it clear publically that he will contest the elections, while another name that is most likely to give him a contest is Shashi Tharoor who is also in the fray and had met Madhusudan Mistri.

Sources close to former union minister Manish Tewari had also said that he is also considering the possibility of contesting the polls.

The crux of the story that emerges is that the Congress party is all set to witness a tripartite or more contest.

Earlier, Madhusudan Mistri said that more than 9,000 delegates will be voting in the polls. Anybody can contest and 10 delegates will be needed to support his or her candidature. The last date for filing nomination is September 30. (ANI)

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