Congress poll ends; 9,500 PCC delegates decide on Kharge vs Tharoor
“Congress party has shown what internal democracy is and other parties that want to take a lesson from it, can do so,” says Madhusudan Mistry
About 9,500 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates out of the total of 9,915 cast their votes in the Congress presidential polls, the party’s Central Election Authority (CEA) chairman Madhusudan Mistry said on Monday (October 17).
The overall voter turnout was about 96 per cent and, in small states, it was nearly 100 per cent, he said at a press conference after voting ended in the Mallikarjun Kharge vs Shashi Tharoor contest. Mistry said by and large the voter turnout in all the places was over 90 per cent.
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“The most satisfactory thing for us was that in all states where polling booths were set up, no adverse incident was reported. This is a big achievement…polls were held in an open process in a peaceful manner,” he added. “Congress party has shown what internal democracy is and other parties that want to take a lesson from it, can do so.”
Bias allegations
Tharoor had earlier alleged that he was being denied a level playing field in the contest with Kharge. Asked about this, Mistry said: “As far as this is concerned, the role of the CEA intervention comes when a complaint is made to us and we see a violation of guidelines. We were given one complaint and we tried to rectify it.
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“As far as a candidate claiming that people were not turning up for his meeting — this is not for the CEA to address, if people like you, they will come to your meetings, if they don’t then they may not come. Where does the CEA figure in this? At our end, we have tried to ensure that this is a free and fair election and all guidelines are followed.”
My thanks to all the @INCIndia colleagues, workers, delegates across the country who had the courage to participate, to campaign, to dream & to vote today — whatever the result of this election, it is a victory for YOU! Jai Hind, Jai Congress! #ThinkTomorrowThinkTharoor pic.twitter.com/SnGJkyU6GF
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 17, 2022
On Monday, Tharoor tweeted his thanks to his supporters. “My thanks to all the @INCIndia colleagues, workers, delegates across the country who had the courage to participate, to campaign, to dream & to vote today — whatever the result of this election, it is a victory for YOU! Jai Hind, Jai Congress!,” he said.
Fully secret ballot
Mistry said no one should have any apprehensions as it is a secret ballot and nobody will get to know who voted for whom. State-wise numbers will also not be revealed, he added.
While 87 people have voted at the Congress office in Delhi, 50 people, including Rahul Gandhi, voted at the booth set up in Ballari for the Bharat Jodo Yatra participants. At the Ballari booth, the voting was 100 per cent. Ballot boxes from all states will start arriving at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters from this evening. “We have already received the two ballot boxes alloted for the Delhi Congress office,” said Mistry.
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Kharge is considered the favourite for his perceived proximity to the Gandhis and backing by senior leaders, even as Tharoor has pitched himself as the candidate of change.
Mistry said decisions on internal elections for the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and other office bearers will be taken by the new party president in consultation with party leaders, as and when the next AICC plenary session is convened.
