Picture : Twitter/ ANI
Ahead of the Congress presidential polls, Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala , Shashi Tharoor has said that he represents change in the party which a leader like Mallikarjun Kharge can’t bring about. Tharoor has begun his campaign for the Congress top job with a apt hashtag : #ThinkTomorrowThinkTharoor
The Congress MP, while addressing party workers at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial in Nagpur on Sunday, said that the Congress President’s polls are not a war, but only “he” can bring the required changes in the party.
“We are not enemies, it’s not war. Some people are saying that Kharge Ji is a senior leader, and why don’t I get out of the race for him? I respect Kharge Ji, but it’s a poll for our party’s future. There are differences in the way we want to take the party forward,” Tharoor said.
“Kharge Ji is a part of our leadership, and other than the Gandhi family he is among the top three leaders of the Congress party. But leaders like him can’t bring change and will continue the existing system. I will bring the change as per the expectations of party workers,” Tharoor further said.
Earlier on Saturday, while talking to ANI, Tharoor had called the Gandhi family an asset to the party saying, “Gandhi family and Congress’ DNA is the same…No (party) president is such a fool to tell “goodbye” to Gandhi family. They are a huge asset to us”.
Tharoor also said he would be open to the idea of a public debate between the candidates as it would evoke people’s interest in the party similar to the recent British Conservative Party leadership race. However Mallikarjun Kharge did not appear keen on the issue .
Asked about Tharoor’s remarks on holding a debate, Kharge quoted by PTI said “I don’t want to get into that, I only know how to work, give me an opportunity to do that.”
