Meira Kumar, Mukul Wasnik may run for Congress chief as 'official candidates' of high command

By Rajdeep Sardesai: Congress leaders Mukul Wasnik and Meira Kumar may be propped as the ‘official candidates’ by the party high command in the presidential race, sources told India Today TV.

This comes after Ashok Gehlot, a fierce Gandhi-family loyalist, pulled out of the contest amid a major political crisis in Rajasthan. Although the Rajasthan fiasco has irked and upset the Gandhis, efforts are being made to convince Gehlot. Mukul Wasnik and Ambika Soni are mediating the talks between the Rajasthan chief minister and 10, Janpath. Hence, it is too early to rule out Gehlot from the race.

Wasnik is the second G-23 leader in the race, including Shashi Tharoor, while Kumar served as the Speaker of Lok Sabha during the UPA rule. The G-23 is a Group of 23 dissident party leaders seeking an organizational overhaul of the Congress.

In 2019 also, Mukul Wasnik’s name was floated for the Congress top post when Rahul Gandhi stepped down, taking responsibility for the crushing defeat in the general election.

Earlier, Sonia Gandhi had reportedly said the family or the party will not back any presidential candidates and that anyone is free to fight for the top post. This is the first time in 22 years that the party will vote to elect a president.

Shashi Tharoor and Digvijaya Singh are the other contestants of the election which will be held on October 17.

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