Kharge likely to head for big win against Tharoor

As the Congress Working Committee delegates across India voted for their next party president, analysts are of the view that Mallikarjun Kharge is most likely to head for a big win against his rival Shashi Tharoor.

Although the Gandhis took “extra caution” to let the media know their choice, the developments following official nominations of the candidates gave a pretty clear sign of their choice. However, Kharge wasn’t even the first preference of Gandhis. Sonia Gandhi’s first choice was Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, but the latter reportedly rebelled and pulled out of the race following the political fiasco in his home state.

While Kharge’s nomination was proposed by senior leaders, including G-23 leaders, Tharoor struggled to get any of the top leaders in the Congress to second him. His nomination was backed by second-rung leaders like Salman Soz, Mohsina Kidwai, and Karti Chidambaram.

Analysts see Kharge as the “unofficial” official candidate of the Gandhis. Thus, he is “sailing on a safe boat”, says a leader, requesting anonymity. Further Tharoor posted a cryptic tweet today which led to speculations whether the Thiruvananthapuram MP had anticipated defeat in the contest. Tharoor posted an ambiguous quote in Hindi, saying “we fight some battles only so that history can remember that the present was not silent.” He said several state presidents of the party did not have adequate time to meet him, but they held parleys with Kharge. Earlier, Tharoor had said, “In several PCCs, leaders welcomed and met Kharge Sahab. The same was not done for me. I visited PCCs but PCC chiefs were not available. I am not complaining, but do you not see a difference in treatment?”

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I am sure that after assuming office , @kharge Ji shall take effective steps to Unite Congress and lead the Party to protect India's Democracy & Social Fabric

— Abhijit Mukherjee (@ABHIJIT_LS) October 17, 2022

Both Congress leaders have totally different backgrounds. While Kharge was born in a poor family at Varavatti in Bidar district and did his education in Gulbarga, Tharoor was born in London and studied in Delhi University’s St Stephen’s College. He went to the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in the US for his masters and doctorate.

However, the big question is how the party will manage the next course of action in absence of Gandhis at the helm of affairs, even though many believe they will be part and parcel of all ‘decision-making processes.’ Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram hinted at the role for the next president. Talking to NDTV, he said, “No one is saying the voice of the Gandhis will diminish.” He, however, dismissed talk of “remote-control” by the Gandhis. “The allegation of the Gandhis remote controlling is an assumption. You think the Gandhis will be able to dictate once leaders are elected at district level through elections?” he questioned.

The last contested election for the post of Congress president was in 2000 when Sonia Gandhi handed Jitendra Prasada a crushing defeat.

The Nehru-Gandhi family has been at the helm of the party for about four decades after Independence. The five family members who held the top post are: Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

-INDIA NEWS STREAM