Guwahati: Digvijaya Singh declared on Friday that he was withdrawing from the contest for the top job and that he was supporting Mallikarjun Kharge, who is likely to be in the running, in yet another twist in the story of the Congress president elections.
The deadline to submit nominations for the elections is today. Singh has promised to submit his nominees today on Thursday. Kharge decided to withdraw from the race, nevertheless, after hearing rumours that he was also considering running in the party’s internal elections.
Singh made the announcement after meeting Kharge this morning at the latter’s home.
Speaking to reporters in this location, Singh stated that he “cannot think of contesting an election” against such a powerful figure as Kharge.
“My superior and commander is Kharge. Yesterday, I went to his house to see whether he was contesting. I won’t fill out the paperwork if he does. He declared that he would not challenge. I learned that he is a candidate through the media. He and I met this morning. I stated that I support him if he is submitting the nomination. He is a seasoned and well-respected party leader, and I cannot see running against him in an election “he said.
“Kharge wouldn’t have gone to get the form if I had known sooner. He now plans to submit his nomination, and I shall serve as his proposer “Singh added.
He declared that his “commitment to the Nehru-Gandhi family” will not be compromised.
“I have always worked for Congress and will do so in the future. On three things, I won’t give in. Dalit, tribal, and poor are first. Second, I don’t make deals with those who disturb the peace in my community. I have never and will not compromise on my loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty ” he said.
The sudden turn of events is occurring on the final day of nomination filing, which ends today at 3 o’clock.
Singh is the second Congress politician to withdraw from the race after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot declared he will not run in the polls due to the unrest in his state.
According to reports on Friday, none of the “G-23” leaders in Congress plan to submit a candidate for the position of Congress president.
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari declared he would put Kharge forward.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Congress leader KN Tripathi announced that he will submit his nomination today at 1 pm.
“I’ll submit my nomination today at 1:00. (for the Congress president post). Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, the party’s leader, have stated that they are neither inviting nor rejecting anyone to run for office. Instead, they say they are waiting to hear from the party’s grassroots members “he said.
The grand old party is poised to elect a non-Gandhi president after more than 25 years as a result of the Gandhis’ decision not to run for president.
The results of the party polls will be made public on October 19.