New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh collected nomination papers Thursday for the Congress presidential polls as Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot reached 10 Janpath to meet Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi.
“I have collected the nomination papers. I will file my nomination tomorrow between 11 am and 3 pm”, said Singh after collecting the papers, confirming speculations that he is throwing in his hat for the party’s top post.
Prior to that, former finance minister P Chidambaram met Digvijaya at the latter’s residence Thursday morning.
Singh also met Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Thursday who welcomed his candidacy. “We both agreed that ours is not a battle between rivals but a friendly contest among colleagues,” tweeted Tharoor.
Received a visit from @digvijaya_28 this afternoon. I welcome his candidacy for the Presidency of our Party. We both agreed that ours is not a battle between rivals but a friendly contest among colleagues. All we both want is that whoever prevails, @incIndia will win!✋🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/Df6QdzZoRH
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 29, 2022
While similar speculations were raised earlier, Singh had said at the time that he was not in the race. However, his decision seems to have changed after developments in Rajasthan over the past week leaving questions regarding Gehlot filing his nomination.
When asked if he’d consulted the Gandhis on his nomination, “they’re my leaders”, is all Singh said.
Gehlot had last week said that he will be filing his nomination for party president. However, before a planned meeting of the party’s legislators in Rajasthan over the weekend, a group of over 90 MLAs held a separate meeting to show allegiance to Gehlot, rejecting the high command’s bid of replacing him with Sachin Pilot as the state’s Chief Minister once he’s elected President.