Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is all set to contest the party president election to be held on October 17 after he got the go ahead from party interim president Sonia Gandhi, reports said on Monday.
Earlier in the day, the Thiruvananthapuram MP had met Gandhi at her residence in Delhi. He, however, has not disclosed what transpired at the meeting.
According to reports, Gandhi told Tharoor that anyone was free to contest the Congress president poll which would be held according to the electoral process.
"Senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor gets a nod from Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi to contest for the post of the party president, after he reached out to her in a meeting today, citing he can make internal democracy stronger. Sonia Gandhi, Congress interim president, replied that he (Shashi Tharoor) can contest (for the post of the party president) if he wants, anybody can contest elections," news agency ANI quoted party sources as saying.
There had been speculation that Tharoor, who was among the group of 23 leaders who had written to Gandhi in 2020 demanding organisational overhaul, may contest the poll even as chorus grows louder for making Rahul Gandhi the new party president.
At least half a dozen state units of the party have so far passed resolutions backing Rahul to the top post even as uncertainty and suspense persisted over whether he would take on the mantle.
After Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat units of the Congress demanded that Gandhi be made party chief, the party's Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir and Mumbai units passed resolutions calling for his elevation to the post of president on Monday.
Rahul, who is leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, had earlier said he had made his decision on whether he would take up the party presidency but did not divulge his plans.
Gandhi's remarks were seen by many in the party as an indication that he might stick to his earlier stance of not taking up the party chief's post. With his cryptic remarks, the suspense over who would be the next president of the grand old party has intensified.
In case Rahul Gandhi does not contest, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is being seen as a front-runner. The NDTV reported on Monday that Gehlot will visit Delhi On October 25 and file his nomination the next day.
While there has been a buzz over the last several months that Gehlot had been sounded out by the Gandhis for the party president's post, the speculation became even more intense after he had a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi in August. Gehlot is one of the senior-most leaders in the party and has played the role of a sheet anchor for the Congress.
The process for filing nominations for the election will be held from September 24 to 30. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 8 and the election, if required, will be held on October 17. The results will be out on October 19.
Meanwhile, Tharoor on Monday endorsed a petition by a group of young members seeking "constructive reforms" in the party.
The petition shared by Tharoor on Twitter sought reforms and a pledge by AICC president candidates to implement the Udaipur Declaration in entirety, if elected. The former Union minister said it had been signed by over 650 people so far.
"I welcome this petition that is being circulated by a group of young @INCIndia members, seeking constructive reforms in the Party. It has gathered over 650 signatures so far. I am happy to endorse it & to go beyond it," Tharoor tweeted with screenshots of the petition.
With PTI inputs
