New Delhi: The resolutions passed by several Congress state units urging Rahul Gandhi to take over as the party president have not been “authorised” by interim chief Sonia Gandhi, sources close to MP Shashi Tharoor said.
In a meeting between the Congress chief and Tharoor Monday, Sonia, according to sources privy to the matter, said that she will remain “neutral” during the election process and that she – in other words, the Gandhis – will not have a “preferred candidate”.
The interim president, however, did not clarify whether Rahul will contest the party’s upcoming presidential elections.
Tharoor, sources said, met her as he wants to throw in his hat for the internal polls.
Over the last couple of days, seven state units of the Congress have passed a resolution to appoint Rahul Gandhi again as the president.
However, sources close to the Gandhi scion told ThePrint that he is “obstinate” about not contesting the elections or taking up the post.
Soon after Tharoor’s meeting, which lasted about 30-40 minutes, reports also claimed that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot could be a contender against the Kerala MP.
Earlier, it was reported that Sonia Gandhi had asked Gehlot to stand. However, the chief minister has since maintained that he would like Rahul Gandhi to take on the mantle.
In fact, the Congress state unit in Rajasthan, at Gehlot’s behest, was the first state unit to pass a resolution for Rahul to formally helm the party’s leadership.
In case of a likely face-off between Gehlot and Tharoor, it’ll be the first Congress presidential election to see a contest in 22 years. It will also mean that a non-Gandhi will take over as party president after 24 years.
Also read: No elections for Congress state chiefs & AICC members, will be ‘nominated’ by new party president
‘Don’t need anyone’s nod to contest’
Responding to reports of Tharoor meeting Sonia Gandhi, Congress MP and party’s communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh said that no one needs a nod to contest for the presidential elections.
“Anybody who wants to contest is free and welcome to do so. This has been the consistent position of Congress President and Shri Rahul Gandhi. This is an open, democratic and transparent process. Nobody needs anybody’s nod to contest,” said Ramesh in a statement.
The Print sought a response from the Congress on Sonia Gandhi’s stance regarding the resolutions passed by Congress state units, but did not receive an answer.
Meanwhile, an appeal has been floated in the party asking for the presidential candidates to uphold resolutions made at the Udaipur Nab Sankalp Shivir – a brainstorming session that was held by the party in May.
Tharoor has endorsed this appeal.
According to Praveen Chakravarthy, chairman of Congress’ Data and Analytics Wing, that is linked to the party elections, more than 2,100 members of the party have signed the appeal in a day since its launch Monday.
Also read: Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra has many questions for Rahul Gandhi. But no easy answers