Sonia Gandhi's suggestion of my name for Congress president position is rumour: Mallikarjun Kharge
"Someone spread this rumour to discredit the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, and myself. She has clearly said that she will not contest the party elections or support any candidate," said Mallikarjun Kharge, the party's presidential candidate.
FollowCongress veteran leader and the party's presidential candidate, Mallikarjun Kharge, said that his name was not suggested by party chief Sonia Gandhi and denied receiving support from the party's interim president.
As per Kharge, Sonia Gandhi never suggested his name for the position of party president. "Sonia Gandhi's suggestion of my name for the presidency is a rumour; I have never made this claim. She has evidently said that no member of the Gandhi family will participate in the election or support any candidate," Kharge said.Â
For the Congress President position, Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge are competing.
"Someone spread this rumour to discredit the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, and myself. She has stated unequivocally that she will not contest in the party elections or support any candidate," Kharge stated.
Kharge said that the party's members had elected 9300 delegates to vote for the candidate and that the candidate with the most votes would be elected.
When asked about Uttar Pradesh voters, he stated that the state had '1250 voters' (delegates). "The candidates who requested me to run will be held accountable for my win," he continued. "I am not here to access my chances.
Earlier on Sunday, Kharge stated that he is contesting the Congress Presidential elections as the country's situation is very 'bad,' and he intends to 'fight' them.
"I want to fight as the country's situation is dire. Wherever democracy is not appropriate, Modi and Shah are playing politics. Agencies such as the CBI and ED are weakening. I need strength to fight them. That is why I am contesting the elections on the advice of delegations," Kharge said.
Digvijaya Singh dropped out of the race earlier and extended his support to Kharge, whom he described as a 'senior and respected leader of the party' against whom he 'cannot think of contesting.'
Following Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's statement that he would not compete in the elections due to political unrest in his state, Singh was the second Congress politician to declare his withdrawal from the race.
The grand old party is about to elect a non-Gandhi president for the first time in more than 25 years due to the Gandhis withdrawing from the presidential campaign.
On October 17, the election will be held, and on October 19, the results will be announced.Â
The Bharat Jodo Yatra, a 3,500-kilometer march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir that passes across 12 states, is being led by Rahul Gandhi. The 25-kilometre-per-day Yatra started in Kanyakumari and would finish in Kashmir the following year.
Also Read:Â Shashi Tharoor's sensational claim: 'Electors instructed by their leaders to support Mallikarjun Kharge'
Also Read:Â Jairam Ramesh slams NCPCR's claim on Congress 'misusing' children during Bharat Jodo Yatra
