Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a jibe at Congress MP Shashi Tharoor reportedly conveyed his intent to contest party chief polls to Sonia Gandhi and said “nobody needs anybody’s nod to contest, especially that of party leadership”.
“Entire party is immersed in making #BharatJodoYatra a success. Even so it’s important to reiterate that any member is welcome to contest for Congress President. This is a democratic & transparent process. Nobody needs anybody’s nod to contest, especially that of party leadership,” Ramesh, party’s general secretary in-charge communications, tweeted.
Addressing a press conference, Ramesh said, “Anybody is free to contest in organisational elections. It is an open process and no permission is required. You don’t need permission from Rahul ji or Sonia Ji to file your nomination papers.”
“Congress is the only party that has polls to elect its president unlike CPM and BJP. We try to bring consensus. The best way to achieve it is by following the Kamaraj model. Polls will happen on the 17th if there are more than 1 candidate,” he added.
Tharoor on Monday met Sonia Gandhi and expressed his desire to contest the upcoming AICC chief polls, while the Congress president conveyed that she would stay “neutral” in the October 17 election, sources said.
Sonia Gandhi welcomed the idea of more people contesting the polls and dispelled the notion that there would be an “official candidate”, they said, PTI reported.
Tharoor, a former Union Minister, was among the group of 23 leaders or G-23 who had written to Sonia Gandhi in 2020 calling for an organisational overhaul.
As per reports, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, a loyalist of Gandhi family, is also likely to for party president opposite Tharoor.
