New Delhi: Probable Congress presidential candidates Digvijaya Singh and Shashi Tharoor met on Thursday, with the latter saying that theirs is “not a battle between rivals but a friendly contest” among colleagues.
Singh met the party MP from Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday after collecting his nomination papers for the polls, which he is likely to submit on Friday. Tharoor has already declared that he will file his nomination for the post of Congress president on Friday, the last day of the nomination process.
“Received a visit from Digvijaya Singh this afternoon. I welcome his candidacy for the Presidency of our Party,” Tharoor said in a tweet.“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!” he said.
Responding to Tharoor’s tweets, Singh said, “I agree @Shashi Tharoor we are fighting the communal forces in India. Both believe in the Gandhian Nehruvian Ideology and shall fight them relentlessly, come what may. Best wishes.”
Singh told reporters at the AICC headquarters earlier, “I have taken the nomination papers and most probably I will file my nominations tomorrow.”Asked if he was acting at the behest of the Gandhi family, he said, “I am responsible for myself.”“Wait till the date of withdrawal,” Singh told reporters when asked if he will remain in the fray.
Asked if he was merely posturing, the Congress leader said, “Why don’t you take me seriously?”Singh arrived in Delhi late on Wednesday night, leaving the Bharat Jodo Yatra midway.Polling for the post will take place on October 17 while the counting of votes, if necessary, will happen on October 19. The result will be announced on that day too.
Ashok Gehlot was believed to be the Gandhi family’s chosen man for the top party post but after Rajasthan MLAs loyal to him rebelled against the possibility of Sachin Pilot becoming the chief minister, he has withdrawn from the race.Tharoor is part of the so-called G-23 group of Congress leaders that has long pressed for reforms within the party and has been critical of the Gandhi family’s leadership.
Kiara Advani
