Mallikarjun Khadge, Digvijay Singh and Manish Tiwari enter Congress ring for Prez. post

New Delhi: As Sept. 30, the last day for nomination of Congress President’s election arrives, three more names are making rounds for the contest.  Though the winner is likely to be a Nehru-Gandhi family loyalist, likely entry on party veterans Digvijay Singh, Manish Tiwari is going to make the contest more adventurous and interesting.

Tiwari being a G-23 rebel unit member led by GN Azad, he may not make any significant change in the equations, as most electors will follow Sonia-Rahul dictats in voting, scheduled for Oct. 17.

There is speculation that senior party leader and Gandhi family loyalist Mallikarjun Khadge may file his papers today, after Gehlot withdrew his intension to contest.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday announced he will not contest for the post of Congress President.
Gehlot, who was the front runner in the race before a rebellion by his supporters in Rajasthan, said he apologized to Sonia Gandhi that he could not get a resolution passed despite being the Chief Minister.
“I have been a loyal soldier of Congress for 50 years…,” Gehlot said, adding that he became the Chief Minister of Rajasthan thrice with the blessings of Sonia Gandhi.
“The incident that happened two days ago has shaken everyone. I am saddened with what happened. It gave an impression, I am unwilling to let go of the Chief Minister’s chair,” he said.
Congress leader Digvijay Singh and Shashi Tharoor are likely to file nominations for the elections on Friday, the last day for filing nominations.
Another Congress leader from Jharkhand. K N Tripathi has also collected the nomination form and said he will file the papers on Friday.
September 30 is the last day for filing nominations. The nominations can be withdrawn on October 8, and the first list of candidates will be published the same day.
If there is more than one candidate, the election will be held on October 17 and counting will be held on October 19. (UNI)