2022 Indian National Congress leadership election explained

Election Name:2022 Indian National Congress leadership election
Country:India
Type:leadership
Ongoing:no
Election Date:17 October 2022
Turnout:95.78%[1]
Votes For Election:9915 PCC delegates[2]
1Blank:PCC delegates' vote
Image1:File:Mallikarjun Kharge (crop).jpg
Candidate1:Mallikarjun Kharge
Home State1:Karnataka
Home State2:Kerala
Color1:0000FF
Color2:FF0000
Candidate2:Shashi Tharoor
Electoral Vote1:7,897[3]
Electoral Vote2:1,072
President
Before Election:Sonia Gandhi (interim)
After Election:Mallikarjun Kharge
Percentage1:84.14%
Percentage2:11.42%

The 2022 Indian National Congress leadership election was an internal party election that was held to elect the next president of the Indian National Congress. The election was held on 17 October 2022 and counting of votes took place on 19 October 2022.[4] Mallikarjun Kharge won the election amassing 7,897 votes compared to 1,072 of Shashi Tharoor.

The election was triggered by resignation of Rahul Gandhi as party leader on 10 August 2019. However, the party's presidium, the All India Congress Committee, elected former president Sonia Gandhi as interim president. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the election for the next president was postponed until 2022.[5] The election was administered by the party's Central Election Authority headed by Madhusudan Mistry.[6] [7]

Background

Rahul Gandhi was unanimously elected as president in 2017.[8] However, following the party's poor performance in the 2019 Indian general election, Gandhi resigned.[9] [10] Sonia Gandhi was selected by the party's presidium as the interim president. Sonia Gandhi is Rahul Gandhi's mother, and was the party's longest serving president from 1998 to 2017.[11]

It was reported by news outlets that Rahul Gandhi was not likely to contest the election.[12] [13] It was confirmed by Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh that Rahul Gandhi would not file nomination for the election.[14] [15] Rahul Gandhi told Ashok Gehlot that no member of the Gandhi family should be the next President.[16]

Prior elections

The last party leadership election was held in 2017, which Rahul Gandhi won unanimously.[17] The last contested election was held in 2000, when Sonia Gandhi defeated Jitendra Prasada by a huge margin of 97%.[18] She had been repeatedly selected for the position without any election being held.[19]

Nomination

On 19 September 2022, it was reported that Shashi Tharoor and Ashok Gehlot were interested in running for the post. Both Tharoor and Ashok officially confirmed on 24 September that they would be running for the post. Gehlot and Tharoor confirmed they would file their nominations in the coming days. During the same day Sonia Gandhi met Anand Sharma a prominent leader of the G-23 on the discussion of the post and Himachal Pradesh Election.[20] [21] [22] In the following days various reports emerged that Digvijaya Singh was looking to compete for the post and has started collecting signatures from party members for his nominations. During the process for nominations, multiple Congress MPs flew to Delhi to support various candidates. On 29 September, Digvijaya Singh officially announced he would be contesting for the post and that he would file his papers on 30 September.[23] [24]

Post Gehlot announcing his intentions to run for the post, multiple MLA in Rajasthan expressed dissatisfaction. Concerns over the government power in Rajasthan grew within the party, with pro-Gehlot MLAs planning on submitting resignations if Sachin Pilot were to become the CM.[25] [26] [27] On 29 September, Gehlot met with Congress president Sonia Gandhi for an hour long meeting, post meeting Gehlot confirmed he will no longer be contesting for the post. Later reports emerged that former Jharkhand MLA, K. N. Tripathi was looking to enter the race which was confirmed few hours later.[28]

On 30 September, Shashi Tharoor and K. N. Tripathi officially filed their nomination for the post while Digvijaya Singh pulled out on the last minute. After various meetings from 28 to 30 September, several senior leaders decided to support Mallikarjun Kharge for the post. Singh and Gehlot who pulled out from the contest earlier announced they will be extending their support to Kharge, whereas Tripathi's nomination was rejected by the AICC Central Election Authority.[29]

Schedule

The election schedule was announced by the Congress Working Committee on 28 August 2022.

EventSchedule
Date of Notification22 September 2022
Date for Nominations24 September 2022
Last Date for filing Nominations30 September 2022
Date for scrutiny of nominations1 October 2022
Last date for withdrawal of candidatures8 October 2022
Date of poll17 October 2022
Date of counting19 October 2022

Candidates

Nominated

CandidatePolitical officeCampaign announced
Ref

Shashi Tharoor		24 September 2022
[30] [31] [32]

Mallikarjun Kharge		30 September 2022
[33] [34] [35]

Withdrew

CandidatePolitical officeCampaign announcedCampaign suspendedRef

Ashok Gehlot		23 September 202229 September 2022[39] [40] [41] [42]

Digvijaya Singh		29 September 202230 September 2022[43] [44] [45]

Declined

Incidents

On the day of counting, Tharoor's team alleged electoral fraud and said that there were "extremely serious irregularities" in Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee. They also cited serious issues with polls in Punjab and Telangana. Tharoor's chief election agent, Salman Soz further alleged that poll agents were threatened when reporting cases of voter malpractice.[47] [48]

After the allegations were leaked to the media, the Tharoor camp softened their stance and met with Madhusudan Mistry, the Congress central election authority chairman. After the meeting, Soz was assured of a proper probe and the issue was dismissed by Mistry as a "general complaint" whose accusations were not specific.[49]

Results

The results were announced on 19 October 2022.[50]

CandidatePCC Delegates' vote
Votes%

Mallikarjun Kharge		7,89784.14%

Shashi Tharoor		1,07211.42%
Invalid votes4164.43%
Votes counted9,385

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022-10-17 . Congress Presidential poll sees 95.78% turnout from delegates . 2022-10-17 . Deccan Herald . en.
  2. Web site: 2022-10-17 . Congress votes to elect its next party president . 2022-10-17 . Hindustan Times . en.
  3. Web site: New Congress President - Mallikarjun Kharge: 7897, Shashi Tharoor: 1072 . 2022-10-19 . 2022-10-19 . NDTV . en.
  4. Web site: 2022-08-28 . Congress president election to be held on Oct 17, CWC announces revised schedule . 2022-09-23 . Hindustan Times . en.
  5. Web site: 2021-05-10 . Elections for Congress party president further postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic . 2022-09-23 . The New Indian Express.
  6. News: Phukan . Sandeep . 2022-10-03 . Congress presidential polls CEA issues dos and don'ts for 'fair' election . en-IN . The Hindu . 2022-10-04 . 0971-751X.
  7. Web site: Central Election Authority . 2022-10-04 . . en.
  8. News: Rahul Gandhi elected Congress president unopposed, to take charge on Dec 16 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20201109021611/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rahul-gandhi-elected-congress-president-unopposed/articleshow/62021172.cms . 9 November 2020 . 11 December 2017 . 31 August 2022.
  9. News: Full text of Rahul Gandhi's resignation letter . . https://web.archive.org/web/20211214125921/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rahul-gandhi-congress-president-resignation-full-text-statement-1561262-2019-07-03 . 14 December 2021 . 3 July 2019 . 31 August 2022.
  10. Web site: Rahul Gandhi says he is no longer Congress president, urges party to 'radically transform itself'. Scroll.in.
  11. News: Rahul Gandhi takes over as Congress president. 16 December 2017. 12 November 2017.
  12. Web site: 2022-09-20 . Rahul Gandhi unlikely to contest for Congress party president post: Report . 2022-09-23 . mint . en.
  13. Web site: Rahul Gandhi not likely to contest Congress president polls . 2022-09-23 . ANI News . en.
  14. Web site: 2022-09-23 . In big hint, Congress indicates Rahul Gandhi won't contest president election India News - Times of India . 2022-09-23 . The Times of India . en.
  15. Web site: 2022-09-21 . 'If Rahul Gandhi flies to Delhi on Sept 23, it won't be for…': Jairam Ramesh . 2022-09-23 . Hindustan Times . en.
  16. Web site: 2022-09-23 . No Gandhi family member should be next Congress chief: Rahul Gandhi tells Ashok Gehlot . 2022-09-23 . India Today . en.
  17. Web site: 2017-12-04 . Rahul Gandhi chosen unanimously by 9,000 PCC delegates . 2022-09-23 . The Indian Express . en.
  18. News: 2022-08-30 . Congress prez poll: When Jitendra Prasada challenged Sonia Gandhi and lost . Business Standard India . 2022-09-23.
  19. Web site: 2022-10-16 . The Long Reign Of Sonia Gandhi As Congress Party President . 2022-12-06 . www.outlookindia.com/ . en.
  20. News: Phukan . Sandeep . 2022-09-24 . Congress president election Shashi Tharoor set to file papers next week . en-IN . The Hindu . 2022-09-29 . 0971-751X.
  21. News: Sudhi . K. S. . 2022-09-23 . Ashok Gehlot announces run for Congress president, say Sonia Gandhi will pick his successor . en-IN . The Hindu . 2022-09-29 . 0971-751X.
  22. Web site: 2022-09-23 . Ashok Gehlot makes it official: Will contest for Congress top post . 2022-09-29 . The Indian Express . en.
  23. Web site: Digvijaya Singh Is On. Congress President Polls Gets Another Contender . 2022-09-29 . NDTV.com.
  24. Web site: 2022-09-29 . Congress president polls: Digvijaya Singh collects nomination forms, confirms he is contesting for chief's post . 2022-09-29 . The Indian Express . en.
  25. Web site: After Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot To Meet Sonia Gandhi Later Today: Report . 2022-09-29 . NDTV.com.
  26. News: Rajasthan government crisis: Main actors in Jaipur's political theatre . The Economic Times . 2022-09-29.
  27. Web site: 2022-09-26 . Rajasthan Congress crisis Highlights: CM Gehlot not resigning today, will meet central leadership in Delhi this evening, says PS Khachariyawas . 2022-09-29 . The Indian Express . en.
  28. Web site: Congress presidential polls: Former Jharkhand MLA K N Tripathi enters race . 2022-09-30 . The Economic Times . en.
  29. Web site: 2022-09-30 . Congress President Elections: Shashi Tharoor, KN Tripathi file nominations . 2022-09-30 . Firstpost . en.
  30. Web site: September 19, 2022 . Rajdeep . Sardesai . Supriya . Bhardwaj . Shashi Tharoor to run for Congress president, gets Sonia Gandhi's nod: Sources . 2022-09-29 . India Today . en.
  31. News: Congress president election | Shashi Tharoor set to file papers next week . The Hindu . 24 September 2022 . Phukan . Sandeep .
  32. Web site: Shashi Tharoor files nomination for Cong presidential poll, says he is for change while Mallikarjun Kharge is 'candidate of continuity' . 2022-10-02 . www.telegraphindia.com . en.
  33. News: PTI . 2022-09-30 . Congress polls Mallikarjun Kharge to contest, says Pramod Tiwari . en-IN . The Hindu . 2022-10-02 . 0971-751X.
  34. Web site: 2022-09-30 . Amid growing support, Kharge files nomination to contest Congress prez polls . 2022-10-02 . Hindustan Times . en.
  35. News: 2022-09-30 . Kharge files nomination for Cong president poll . The Economic Times . 2022-10-02.
  36. Web site: 2022-09-30 . K N Tripathi: Ex-minister from Jharkhand stakes claim for post of Congress prez . 2022-10-02 . mint . en.
  37. Web site: 2022-09-30 . Former Jharkhand minister K N Tripathi files nomination for Congress presidential poll . 2022-10-02 . Deccan Herald . en.
  38. Web site: 2022-10-01 . Former Jharkhand Minister KN Tripathi's Nomination For Congress Top Post Rejected . 2022-10-02 . NDTV.com.
  39. Web site: 2022-09-23 . Ashok Gehlot makes it official: Will contest for Congress top post . 2022-09-24 . The Indian Express . en.
  40. News: Sudhi . K. S. . 2022-09-23 . Ashok Gehlot announces run for Congress president, say Sonia Gandhi will pick his successor . en-IN . The Hindu . 2022-09-24 . 0971-751X.
  41. Web site: 2022-09-29 . Congress chief post: Ashok Gehlot opts out of the race for Congress President . 2022-10-02 . mint . en.
  42. Web site: 2022-09-29 . Won't contest Congress chief polls, apologise to Sonia Gandhi: Ashok Gehlot . 2022-10-02 . Hindustan Times . en.
  43. Web site: 2022-09-29 . Digvijaya Singh confirms Cong president poll bid, to file nomination tomorrow . 2022-10-02 . Hindustan Times . en.
  44. Web site: 2022-09-30 . Congress prez poll: Digvijaya Singh opts out citing Kharge's decision to contest . 2022-10-02 . Hindustan Times . en.
  45. Web site: 2022-09-30 . Congress president poll anti-climax: Digvijaya Singh pulls out; it's now Shashi Tharoor vs Mallikarjuna Kharge . 2022-10-02 . Firstpost . en.
  46. News: 23 August 2022 . Sonia Gandhi urges Ashok Gehlot to 'lead' Congress . . 31 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220826000821/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-may-find-its-non-gandhi-chief-in-ashok-gehlot/article65802719.ece . 26 August 2022.
  47. Web site: Livemint . 2022-10-19 . Cong President LIVE: Tharoor's election agent alleges serious irregularities . 2022-10-19 . mint . en.
  48. Web site: Livemint . 2022-10-19 . ‘Serious irregularities’ in Cong Chief poll, team Tharoor's 4 big allegations . 2022-12-06 . mint . en.
  49. Web site: Mistry terms baseless Tharoor’s election complaint of voter fraud in UP .
  50. Web site: 2022-10-19 . LIVE: Shashi Tharoor concedes Congress president poll defeat, wishes Mallikarjun Kharge 'all success' . 2022-10-19 . Hindustan Times . en.

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