Congress president poll: 30 leaders back Mallikarjun Kharge, Shashi Thaoor says won't pull out of race | Key points

Mallikarjun Kharge has emerged as one of the latest names in nominations for Congress presidential election and with other bigwigs, including Digvijay Singh, Ashok Gehlot opting out, it seems to be a two-way contest between Kharge and Shashi Tharoor.

In a major development in the race for Congress's presidential post, veteran party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Mallikarjun Kharge filed his nomination on Friday. Soon after his name started doing the rounds for presidential candidate, Kharge was backed by several Congress leaders, including former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, who opted out of the race saying "Kharge ji is my senior".

With Digivajaya Singh opting out and Kharge throwing his hat in the ring for the October 17 polls, it is likely that there may be a bipolar contest between Kharge and Shashi Tharoor, who also filed his nomination at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office today.

1. Kharge's candidature came a day after Digvijaya Singh met him at his residence in New Delhi. A total of 30 Congress leaders have so far proposed Kharge's name. "I have been connected to the ideology of Congress since my childhood, used to campaign for the same Gandhi, Nehru ideology when I was in classes 8 and 9," the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Rajya Sabha told reporters after filing his nomination. "All leaders, workers, delegates and ministers who came in support of me today, encouraged me, I thank them. We will see what the results are, on October 17; hopeful that I win," he added.

2. Another senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, filed his nominations for party's presidential election today. While speaking exclusively to India Today, Tharoor said Congress voters will decide whether he is the right person for the top post or not.

3. Tharoor emerged as a "dark horse" as the dust over Congress presidential nominations settled on Friday after Singh and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced their unwillingness to contest the poll.

4. Soon after filing his nomination for the Congress presidential poll, Tharoor said that he had a vision for the grand old party which he would be sending to all delegates. He also said that he is here to be the voice of all party workers.

5. "Kharge's nomination is welcomed. Many candidates are needed for the party's benefit. I will not pull out of Congress presidential election as I won't let down workers from around the country who have gone out of their ways to extend their support to me," Tharoor said while speaking to reporters. Additionally, sources close to India Today have said that none of the G-23 leaders will file nominations for the Congress presidential poll.