Congress presidential election: 95 per cent turnout recorded in Mallikarjun Kharge versus Shashi Tharoor contest
New Delhi, October 17
Voting ended on Monday in the Congress presidential poll as senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor faced-off for the post of AICC chief. With 9,497 out of 9,915 delegates casting their vote, nearly 95 per cent turnout was witnessed.
Cent per cent voting was registerered at AICC polling booth where all 87 delegated voted.
Simillarly, all 50 out of 50 voters, including Rahul Gandhi, voted at Bharat Jodo campsite.
Voting began at 10 am at the AICC headquarters here and at the party’s polling booths in state offices across the country.
My best wishes to @ShashiTharoor. Spoke to him earlier today, both of us are contesting to strengthen @INCIndia to build a stronger amp; better nation for the future generations.
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) October 17, 2022
As voting in the Congress presidential poll got under way, outgoing party chief Sonia Gandhi said she had been waiting for a long time for this day.
Sonia Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra came together at the AICC headquarters and cast their vote.
When asked by reporters about the poll, Sonia Gandhi said, “I have been waiting for a long time for this day.”
Spoke to Mallikarjun @kharge this morning to wish him well amp; to reaffirm my respect for him amp; our shared devotion to the success of @incIndia.
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 17, 2022
Later, former prime minister Manmohan Singh also cast his ballot at the party headquarters where the 68th polling booth for the AICC presidential election was set up.
Veteran Congress leader P Chidambaram was the first to cast his vote at the AICC headquarters here.
Kharge is considered the favourite for his perceived proximity to the Gandhis and backing by senior leaders, even as Tharoor has pitched himself as the candidate of change.
Meanwhile, senior leader Ambika Soni told reporters after voting that the Gandhi family cannot be ignored and the party workers’ attachment with them would remain.
“The Gandhi family will continue to play a very important role. Sonia Gandhi will continue to be our leader,” added Congress general secretary Mukul Wasnik.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, once a frontrunner for the post, said in Jaipur that his relationship with the Gandhi family will be the “same for life”, even after October 19.
