Congress MP Shashi Tharoor issued a clarification after claims that he going to withdraw from the party’s upcoming presidential polls. With Saturday being the last day for withdrawal of nominations, the party is now slated to see a face-off between Tharoor and fellow lawmaker Mallikarjun Kharge.
“There are rumours going around – attributed to sources in Delhi – that I am withdrawing today. Let me assure you, I don’t withdraw from a challenge. Never have all my life…never will. This is a struggle. It’s a friendly contest within the party, but it is a fight to the finish. And I’m here to stay the course,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP assured in a video message.
This is also not the first time that the former Union Minister has issued such a clarification this week.
Quelling similar rumours earlier this week, Tharoor had also said that former Union minister also said that he has not asked other candidates to withdraw their candidature as he was a democratically inclined person. He emphasised the need for a strong Congress party in the country to take on the BJP.
Earlier in October Tharoor had claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was asked by some party leaders to seek withdrawal of his candidature.
“He told me he will not do so. He said I should not withdraw and that I should contest in the election…He reminded me that he has been saying so for the past 10 years that there should be a contest for the party chief’s post,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP said.
The polling for the Congress presidential election will be held on October 17. The counting of votes will be taken up on October 19 and the results will be declared the same day. More than 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee delegates will vote in the poll.
