'Someone Spread This Rumour': Mallikarjun Kharge On Sonia Gandhi Suggesting His Name For AICC President Post

Kharge said that Sonia Gandhi never suggested his name for party president position and termed the speculations as rumours. 

Congress President candidate Mallikarjun Kharge

Source : PTI File Photo

New Delhi: Congress senior leader and party president candidate Mallikarjun Kharge dismissed speculations of receiving support from party interim president Sonia Gandhi and that she suggested his name for the post, reported news agency ANI. Kharge said that Sonia Gandhi never suggested his name for party president position and termed the speculations as rumours. 

"Sonia Gandhi suggesting my name for the president position is all a rumour, I have never said this. She has clearly stated that anyone from the Gandhi family will neither be a part of the election nor support any candidate," Mr Kharge said on Tuesday, quoted by the news agency. 

"Someone has spread this rumour to defame the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi and me. She has clearly stated that she will not participate in the party elections nor will she come in support of any candidate," he added. 

Mallikarjun Kharge will face his fellow party member, Shashi Tharoor for the contest for Congress President post. 

Speaking with the news agency, Kharge said that party members have elected 9,300 delegates which will vote for the candidate and the one with the majority would be elected. 

Talking about voters of Uttar Pradesh, he said that there were a total of "1250 voters" (delegates) in UP.

"I am not here to see the chances for me, the candidates that have asked me to contest will be responsible for my victory," he added.

Earlier on Sunday, Kharge had said that he is contesting the Congress Presidential polls because the condition in the country is very "bad" and he wants to "fight" them.

"I want to fight because the condition in the country is bad. Modi and Shah are doing politics where there is no place for Democracy. Agencies like CBI and ED are weakening. To fight them I need to have power. That is why, on the recommendation of delegations, I am fighting the polls," Kharge had said, quoted by the news agency.

Polling to elect the next Congress President will take place on October 17 and the election results will be declared on October 19.