Congress says leadership nod not needed to contest party poll
Ramesh says t his is a democratic and transparent process. Nobody needs anybody’s nod t o cont est , especially that of par t y leader ship
Amid speculation that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Shashi Tharoor have emerged as frontrunners in the race for presidential elections for the Congress, the party’s communication in-charge, Jairam Ramesh, on Tuesday put out a tweet that “anybody can run in the presidential polls” and nobody needs“any body’ s nod, especially the party’s leadership.”
The grand old party is set to elect its next president in October when the crucial presidential polls would be held to choose Sonia Gandhi’s successor.
The BJP and others have oten criticised the party over dynastic politics, accusing it of not being able to look beyond the Gandhis.
On Monday, when Shashi Tharoor visited Sonia Gandhi, he was assured that the election will be held in a “fair and transparent” manner and anyone who wants to contest may file their nomination.
“Entire party is immersed in making #Bharatjodoyatra a success. Even so it’s important to reiterate that any member is welcome to contest for Congress President,” Jairam Ramesh tweeted on Tuesday.
“This is a democratic and transparent process. Nobody needs anybody’s nod to contest, especially that of party leadership,” he further wrote.
Meanwhile, names of Tharoor and Gehlot have emerged at a time when several state units have appealed for Rahul Gandhi’s return to the top post.
Ashok Gehlot too has backed one such resolution in Rajasthan.
Rahul Gandhi, however, has said he “has made the decision on the mater clear.”
The next Congress president would have many challenges, including revival of the party’s grip ahead of the 2024 national elections.
Ashok Gehlot, a Congress veteran who has weathered many a threat including an alleged BJP “Operation Lotus” and a rebellion, has repeatedly been asked by Sonia Gandhi to take charge of the party.
But he is reportedly concerned about ceding the Chief Minister’s job to his rival Sachin Pilot, sources say.
Sachin Pilot’s arrival in Delhi yesterday triggered speculation that he may be closer to geting what he has wanted for years - a shot at being Chief Minister of Rajasthan, at least for a year before the state votes for a new government.
Congress party is pinning all hopes on the long foot march of its leader Rahul Gandhi to improve its prospects in the national elections 17 months away.
Gandhi and 119 fellow marchers get enthusiastic support wherever they go since Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin flagged off the Bharat Jodo Yatra or unite India march on Sept.7.
According to last week’s survey by a poll agency, Gandhi’s approval rating has jumped to 63 per cent in Tamil Nadu and 60 per cent in Kerala since the march began.
They hope to sweep most of the 87 seats in the Parliament from the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka with the key ally, Stalin’s DMK on its side.
It also hopes to make gains in Telangana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar where the party has a strong support base and allies capable of winning votes.
“Congress has got new energy. It’s Sanjeevani (a mythological cure-all plant that can even reverse death) for the party,” Ramesh told reporters.
“It’s got new life and new enthusiasm in different parts (of India) and there’ll be similar marches in Assam, West Bengal and Odisha where the main BJY doesn’t pass.”
He said Gandhi was planning to take out a West-to-east march from Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi in Gujarat, to Parashurampura in Arunachal Pradesh next.
“We’ll be spending 21 days in Karnataka where we expect an equally positive response,” Ramesh, who also hails from the neighbouring Karnataka state, said.
“So the Bharat Jodo Yatra is becoming a booster dose for the party. It’s nothing to do with state elections. It’s to prepare the party for 2024 (national elections).”
Gandhi, 52, set out on the long march to ‘unite India’ from the southern tip of Kanyakumari with a target of reaching the northernmost Kashmir state in 150 days. Tens of thousands of people turned up to greet him on either side of the national highway and many joined him as he walked into the Kerala port city of Kochi Tuesday.