Digivijaya Singh joins race for Congress president, says will file nomination tomorrow
New Delhi, September 29: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday joined the race for the post of Congress President.
Also Read: CM Bhagwant Mann announces revival of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh State Youth Award
"Today I have come here to collect the nomination form and will possibly file it tomorrow," Singh said outside his residence here today. The former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh met with Rahul Gandhi in Kerala at the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra and had arrived in the national capital late last evening.
Till now, only Shashi Tharoor has declared his candidature for the post.
The filing of nominations for the top Congress post will take place till September 30 and the election will take place on October 17.
On being asked whether his entering the race for the top Congress post will be a face-off against Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, who has also been a top contender in the race besides Shashi Tharoor, Singh asked to wait and see till October 8, the last date of withdrawal of nominations.
"Wait till 8th, the date of withdrawal," the former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh said.
When pressed on the issue, Singh said "Why dont you take me seriously?
The veteran leader had met with Rahul Gandhi in Kerala at the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra and had arrived in the national capital late Wednesday evening.
The entry of Digvijaya Singh has made the battle for the top Congress post interesting as G23 leader Shashi Tharoor is likely to file the nomination on Friday.
Till now, only Shashi Tharoor has declared his candidature for the party president, while there are speculations about Gehlot being in the fray ahead of which the party has seen a huge political turmoil in Rajasthan, following which a show cause notice has been sent to three of his loyalists causing some uncertainty about his candidature.
The MLAs of the Gehlot camp had not attended the meeting of the Congress legislative party (CLP) scheduled on Sunday evening at the residence of Gehlot in Jaipur the presence of the observers, which was attended by the Sachin Pilot and his camp MLAs. Gehlot loyalists had held a meeting with Cabinet Minister Shanti Dhariwal at his residence, following which over 90 MLAs had submitted their resignations to Speaker CP Joshi.
Gehlot on Wednesday sought to play down the political crisis in the state for which three of his loyalists have been issued show cause notice by the party's central leadership and said, "internal politics goes on, we'll resolve it".
Talking to reporters, Gehlot said the party works under the Congress president and decisions will be taken in the time to come.
He said Congress workers worry about the direction in which the country is heading and tackling the issue was more important.
Also Read: 42 vehicles running in CM Mann’s convoy, reveals RTI
-PTC News
