Shashi Tharoor to contest elections for Congress president? Leader reacts

Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said he has "no comments to make" over speculations of him contesting the election for Congress President.

"I have no comments to make. I accept what I have written in my article, that elections will be good for the Congress party," Tharoor told media persons in Thiruvananthpuram.

Earlier in the day, the 66-year-old writer and intellectual put out a tweet quoting Swami Vivekananda, and said: "I do not just believe in reform; I believe in growth. I do not dare… to dictate to our society, ‘This way thou shouldst move.’

"I simply want to be like the squirrel in the building of Rama's bridge, who was content to offer his little quota of sand-dust.”

Reports were already doing rounds quoting sources close to Tharoor that said he is considering fighting the Congress presidential election, and may take a call on it soon.

The speculations were also triggered as Tharoor wrote an article in Malayalam newspaper "Mathrubhumi" where he said leadership vacuum at the top has had a damaging effect within the party.

"Today, the key decision making body within the Congress, the Congress Working Committee, has announced an election schedule for a President for the party who will be elected by October 19th.

"Ideally it should have announced elections also for the dozen seats on the CWC itself which are supposed to be elected."

"Allowing members of the party, drawn from the AICC and PCC delegates, to determine who will lead the party from these key positions, would have helped legitimise the incoming set of leaders and give them a credible mandate to lead the party.

"Still, electing a fresh President is a start towards the revitalization the Congress badly needs," he wrote.

"... I hope that several candidates come forward to present themselves for consideration. Putting forward their visions for the party and the nation will surely stir public interest," the former diplomat said.

"Either way, a free and fair election process would be a healthy way to go about settling the issue. It would legitimise the mandate being offered to the incoming president," he said.

The nominations for Congress presidential elections will be filed between September 24-30. The last date of withdrawal is October 8 and the election, if there is more than one candidate, will take place on October 17. The counting of votes and declaration of results will be on October 19. (UNI)