Congress presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday claimed many electors have been instructed by “their leaders” to support his rival but they may eventually vote for him in a secret ballot.
Tharoor is pitted against Mallikarjun Kharge, who is being seen as a favourite for the top party post because of his perceived proximity to the Gandhi family.
In an interview with PTI, Tharoor also said he is sure that those who are expecting a lopsided victory for the “establishment”, as had happened in the 1997 and 2000 elections, are in for a surprise when the votes are counted.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP said he expects the central election authority (CEA) to clarify publicly that the vote will be conducted by a secret ballot, complete with sealed ballot boxes to be opened in Delhi before the candidates and their agents, and the votes mixed together before counting starts.
Asked whether some leaders who are not voicing support for him for the fear of upsetting senior leaders may eventually vote for him in a secret ballot, Tharoor said, “I certainly know that many who have not openly supported me so far for such reasons, including not even attending some of my campaign events, have privately expressed support.” “Some of their ‘leaders’ in the party, to whom they are beholden, have instructed them to support my rival and they feel they cannot defy these ‘netas’ openly. Many such people may eventually choose to cast their vote in my favour,” Tharoor said.
The 66-year-old three- time Lok Sabha MP said many delegates have privately expressed such sentiments and he sees no reason for them to not come through, especially when the vote will be conducted by secret ballot, complete with sealed ballot boxes to be opened in Delhi before the candidates and their agents, and the votes mixed together before counting starts.
“I expect the CEA to clarify all this publicly in the following days. The fact that it is a secret ballot is crucial to assuage the fears of many who are still under the impression that their political bosses will be able to find out how they voted. It is another matter that our high command has assured me there is no ‘official candidate’ in the race, so why should our colleagues fear reprisals if they vote for me,” Tharoor said.
