Guwahati: Choosing between former union ministers Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor as the party’s new leader brought the Congress presidential election to a close on Monday.
The election was open to more than 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee delegates. Both Kharge and Tharoor campaigned ahead of the polls and Congress will get a leader outside the Nehru-Gandhi family as president after 24 years.
Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh have already been called, so the next party leader will have his work cut out for him.
The party’s organisational elections culminated with the presidential election, which was held at a time when Congress is facing numerous difficulties.
Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi was among those who cast their ballot.
“I have been waiting for a long time,” Sonia Gandhi had said when media persons asked her on the poll. Sonia Gandhi cast her vote at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accompanied her mother Sonia Gandhi and cast her vote.
The results will be declared on October 19.