New Delhi: Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, submitted his nomination on Friday at the headquarters of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in Delhi, news agency ANI reported.
Following the unexpected withdrawal of senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh from the Congress presidential election, Kharge announced that he will run for party head.
Soon after filing his nominations, as many as thirty congress leaders proposed Mallikarjun Kharge's name for the post of Congress's President, ANI reported.
"I am fighting for big change," Kharge was quoted by PTI on its official Twitter handle.
Both Kerala MP Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge have filed candidacy papers for the Congress president position today.
Shashi Tharoor filed his nomination at the AICC headquarters today, following a visit to Rajghat and a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi, amid drumbeats and fanfare.
After filing his nominations, Tharoor in a tweet stated: “I have just submitted my nomination papers as a candidate for the presidential election of Congress. It is a privilege to serve the only party in India with an open democratic process to choose its leader. Greatly appreciate Soniaji’s guidance and vision."
With the Gandhis' support, Kharge appears to be in the strongest position to win the election. His supporters included Congress MP Deepender S Hooda and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, whose presence made their support clear.
(With Inputs From Agencies)