Congress President Polls: Hours After Tweet On Constructive Reforms, Shashi Tharoor Meets Sonia Gandhi

Congress MP supported a petition by a group of youth party members seeking for reforms, as well as a vow by Congress chief candidates to follow through on the party's Udaipur declaration, on Twitter.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

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Shashi Tharoor, who is rumoured to be exploring a bid for the presidency of the Congress, met with Sonia Gandhi today immediately after publicly endorsing a petition calling for changes inside the party.

The Thiruvananthapuram-based Congress MP supported a petition by a group of youth party members seeking for reforms, as well as a vow by Congress chief candidates to follow through on the party's Udaipur declaration, on Twitter.

In addition to a five-year post-term limit, the "Udaipur declaration" made by the Congress leadership in May encapsulates the party's commitment to fair internal elections and regulations that permit one candidate per family and one individual per seat.

On Twitter, Tharoor posted a link to the petition and noted that it had already received over 650 signatures.

Taking to Twitter, the Congress MP stated: "I welcome this petition that is being circulated by a group of young @INCIndia members, seeking constructive reforms in the Party. It has gathered over 650 signatures so far. I am happy to endorse it & to go beyond it."

I welcome this petition that is being circulated by a group of young @INCIndia members, seeking constructive reforms in the Party. It has gathered over 650 signatures so far. I am happy to endorse it & to go beyond it. https://t.co/2yPViCDv0v pic.twitter.com/waGb2kdbTu

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 19, 2022

Tharoor's announcement coincides with indications that the Congress is preparing for its internal poll in October with a preference for Gandhi as the leader.

The party has requested that its state units approach Sonia Gandhi to nominate state unit leaders and representatives to the influential All India Congress Committee (AICC). Critics believe it paves the way for the Gandhis to maintain power, with or without an election, like the "G-23" leaders, who wrote to Sonia Gandhi in 2020 requesting internal reforms.

As many as three state Congress organizations have encouraged Rahul Gandhi to change his mind and run for Congress president instead of staying out of the contest. More states could adhere.

Congress President Poll Scheduled To Be Held On Oct 17

The notification date for the Congress poll is September 22, 2022, and candidates can submit their nominations between September 24 and September 30.

The deadline for withdrawal of the nominations is October 8.

The election will be held on October 17, while the results is scheduled to be released on October 19.

“Date of Election (if needed): October 17th, 2022 (Monday) 10am to 4pm. Date of Counting and Declaration of Result (if needed): October 19th, 2022 (Wednesday) 10am onwards,” the Congress press release reads.