Have Vision To Strengthen Congress, Kharge A 'Candidate Of Continuity': Shashi Tharoor

In the election, Tharoor will face Mallikarjun Kharge, who is seen to have the backing of the Gandhis even though they have conveyed that they would remain neutral in the polls.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor filed his nomination for the upcoming party president election on Friday and said that he had a vision to strenthen the party, which has been beset by a string of poll debacles. Addressing a press conference, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said Congress should be a vehicle for "change", PTI reported.

"I have a vision for the Congress and I will share it with over 9,000 delegates and seek their support. My nomination papers reflect the wide range of support I have received. I have got signatures of party workers from a dozen states. We hope to strengthen the Congress and take the country forward," PTI quoted Tharoor as saying.

In the election, Tharoor will face Mallikarjun Kharge, who is seen to have the backing of the Gandhis even though they have conveyed that they would remain neutral in the polls.

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Tharoor, 66, described his electoral opponent Kharge as the 'Bhishma Pitamah' of the party.

"It is a friendly contest that is going to happen. We are not enemies or rivals. No disrespect to him but I will represent my ideas," PTI quoted Tharoor as saying.

He referred to Kharge, 80, as a "candidate of continuity", in an apparent reference to the Karnataka leader being the choice of the Gandhis.

"I am not surprised that the establishment is rallying behind the status quo. If you want the status quo, I think you should vote for Kharge. If you want change and progress with an eye to the rest of the 21st century, then I hope I will stand for that change," Tharoor said.

Tharoor also spoke extensively in Hindi in an apparent effort to highlight his bilingualism. While the bulk of the party delegates who will vote in the election are from the Hindi belt of north India, both Tharoor and Kharge are from the south.

Additionally, Tharoor said that he would not leave the Congress presidential poll race and underscored that he had not taken the trouble of filing the nomination only to opt out later. He said he will not let down party workers supporting him.