There is a buzz in the air that Congress leader, Shashi Tharoor may contest party president elections in October, which he doesn’t deny.
Comments from different sources are pouring in either in favour or against Shashi Tharoor. Madhavan Narayanan journalist writes, “Looking forward to Shashi Tharoor contesting for the Presidency of INC India. Even if he gets only his own vote, it would be a moral victory for party democracy. Besides, he could turn his sophistication into a virtue of trust and help build the organisation
#ShashiTharoor
Looking forward to @ShashiTharoor contesting for the Presidency of @INCIndia . Even if he gets only his own vote, it would be a moral victory for party democracy. Besides, he could turn his sophistication into a virtue of trust and help build the organisation#ShashiTharoor
— Madhavan Narayanan (@madversity) August 30, 2022
Another comment, “Shashi Tharoor may run for Congress president, reports said today, citing his article calling for “free and fair election” for the party chief’s post.
Mr Tharoor did not confirm or deny the report when reporters asked him whether he would contest the October election.
“I have no comment to make. I accept what I’ve written in my article, which is that an election would be a good thing for the Congress party,” the former Union Minister said, referring to his article in the Malayalam daily “Mathrubhumi”.
Reports said Mr Tharoor, an MP from Thiruvananthapuram, is “exploring the possibility” of running for Congress president but has yet to take a final call on it. “He has not made up his mind, but could take a call on it soon,” said sources quoted by Press Trust of India.
In the article, Mr Tharoor said “the leadership vacuum at the top” had a damaging effect on the party.
He called the election of a “fresh president” the start towards the revitalisation the Congress badly needs.
Mr Tharoor said the election also had other benefits “for instance we have seen the global interest in the British Conservative Party during their recent leadership race, a phenomenon we already witnessed in 2019, when a dozen candidates contested to replace Theresa May, and Boris Johnson emerged on top”.
Similarly, the Congress polls would expand national interest in the party and “galvanise more voters towards the Congress party once again”, he indicated.
“For this reason, I hope that several candidates come forward to present themselves for consideration. Putting forward their visions for the party and the nation will surely stir public interest,” he wrote.
While the party as a whole is in need of renewal, he said, “the most urgent leadership position that needs to be filled is naturally that of the Congress president”.
“Given the current state of the party, the perception of crisis and the national picture, whoever assumes the mantle of president will undoubtedly need to achieve the twin goals of energising the Congress party workers and inspiring the voters. He or she should have a plan to fix what ails the party, as well as a vision for India. After all, a political party is an instrument to serve the country, not an end in itself,” he said.
“Either way, a free and fair election process would be a healthy way to go about settling the issue. It would legitimise the mandate being offered to the incoming president,” he said.
The party will elect a new president on October 17, and with both interim chief Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi – a former president – refusing to contest, the assumption is churning around non-Gandhi options. The new chief will be known on October 19.
Listen to what NDTV conveys of the indication that Tharoor may run for Congress Presidency. There are sharp reactions to this from the Congress pro-Rahul Gandhi fans not willing to accept anyone but Rahul Gandhi. However, Rahul Gandhi is adamant about not contesting, so what are the options?
Sources say that Priyanka Gandhi Vadhra’s name has been suggested. The Hindu has already reported that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is the likely nominee of the Gandhi family, who have themselves decided to stay away from the contest. The thriller will unveil itself on October 17th. In the meantime, everyone is waiting anxiously.
What #ShashiTharoor Said On Reports That He May Run For Congress President https://t.co/eFhonCr7Mr pic.twitter.com/oX9DNWKKev
— NDTV (@ndtv) August 30, 2022