Mallikarjun Kharge enters race for Congress president, to file nomination at noon

By Rajdeep Sardesai, Nagarjun Dwarakanath, Supriya Bhardwaj: Senior Congress leader and leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to contest the Congress presidential polls. He will file his nomination after 12 noon today, sources told India Today TV.

Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi will take a final call today.

Kharge may be the third candidate in the presidential election, with Shashi Tharoor and Digvijaya Singh. Mallikarjun Kharge, a Congress veteran, is an eight-time MLA and two-time Lok Sabha MP.

Mallikarjun Kharge, a Congress veteran, is an eight-time MLA, two-time Lok Sabha MP and Rajya Sabha MP. A dalit leader, Kharge was also former KPCC President, ex- home minister and union minister.

Shashi Tharoor and Digvijaya Singh are also likely to file their nominations today as the battle for Congress president poll intensifies. The development comes after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot opted out of the race and the suspense over his continuation at the helm in the state deepened with the party saying a decision would be taken in a day or two.

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The names of Mukul Wasnik and Kumari Selja are also doing the rounds. Some G-23 leaders, including Prithiviraj Chavan, Manish Tewari, Bhupinder Hooda held a meeting at the residence of veteran Congress leader Anand Sharma. According to sources, the leaders discussed the whole situation emerging in the run-up to the Congress presidential polls.

Congress leaders including Mukul Wasnik (G-23), Meira Kumar could be a part of the race for the top Congress post as the ‘official candidate’ of the high command, sources told India Today. The filing of nominations for the top Congress post will take place till September 30 and the election will take place on October 17.

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