Congress presidential poll roundup: Lessons for other parties, says Mistry

Congress Central Election Authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry on Monday said voting for the election of new party president ended on Monday evening with at least 9,500 delegates cast their vote. He added that all of it is provisional data and will be updated soon. He also said that it is an example that other parties should follow.

Cong to get the first non-Gandhi president in 24 years

The Congress is all set to have a non-Gandhi president in more than 24 years. The voting took place at the AICC headquarters as well as at more than 65 polling places throughout the nation. It started at 10 am and concluded at 4 pm. Over 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates from the Electoral College will pick the new party chief — Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor — in a secret ballot. For the sixth time, the election will take place at AICC headquarters at over 65 polling booths across the country in Congress’ 137-year history.

‘No complaints on polling’

Congress’ Central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry said that he is satisfied with the party president polls process, as per media reports. He reported to have expressed that the elections are free, fair, and transparent. He further said that there are no complaints from any of the polling booths set up across the nation and the voting process is going smoothly.

9,500 delegates voted

As per media reports, 96% of voting have taken place across states and around 9,500 delegates have voted today. “No untoward incident occurred…3 ballot boxes have been received- 87 people voted at AICC, Delhi,” Mistry said.

Gandhis vote at party AICC headquarters

While party chief Sonia Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra voted at the AICC headquarters in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi cast his vote at the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ campsite in Karnataka’s Sanganakallu in Ballari along with around 40 other ‘Bharat Yatris’ who are PCC delegates. “I have been waiting for a long time for this day,” Congress chief Sonia Gandhi told reporters after voting at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi.

Tharoor, Kharge at their home states

Tharoor cast his vote at the Kerala Congress headquarters at Thiruvananthapuram, while Kharge did so at the Karnataka Congress office in Bengaluru. “We must decentralise authority and truly empower the grassroots office-bearers of the party. Our PCC delegates, for instance, have literally had no role for the last 22 years but to vote in the coming election on October 17th!” the 66-year-old leader had said to PTI. Tharoor also emphasised that the Congress must present a solid challenge to the BJP’s “centralization of authority” in both party and governmental issues. On the other hand, Kharge wished Tharoor best luck. News agency ANI reported him as saying, “It is a part of our internal election. Whatever we said to each other is on a friendly note. Together we have to build the party. (Shashi) Tharoor telephoned me and wished me luck & I also said the same.”

-INDIA NEWS STREAM