Kharge vs Tharoor: About 96 per cent turnout in Congress presidential polls; no adverse incident reported

PTI

New Delhi, October 17

About 9,500 of the total around 9,900 electors cast their votes in the Congress presidential polls, the party’s central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry said on Monday.

The overall voter turnout was about 96 per cent and in small states, it was nearly 100 per cent, he said at a press conference after voting ended in the Mallikarjun Kharge versus Shashi Tharoor contest.

By and large the voter turnout in all places was over 90 per cent, Mistry said adding that this was provisional data.

“The most satisfactory thing for us was that in all states where polling booths were set up, no adverse incident was reported. This is a big achievement...polls were held in an open process in a peaceful manner,” Mistry said.

My best wishes to @ShashiTharoor. Spoke to him earlier today, both of us are contesting to strengthen @INCIndia to build a stronger & better nation for the future generations.

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) October 17, 2022

“Congress party has shown what internal democracy is and other parties that want to take a lesson from it, can do so,” he said.

Mistry said no one should have any apprehensions as it is a secret ballot and nobody will get to know who voted for whom.

He said the ballot boxes will arrive by Tuesday evening and before the counting begins, they will be mixed thoroughly.

Spoke to Mallikarjun @kharge this morning to wish him well & to reaffirm my respect for him & our shared devotion to the success of @incIndia.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 17, 2022

Three ballot boxes, two of Delhi state and one of AICC headquarters, have been received, he said.

Mistry said 87 delegates cast their vote at the party headquarters here.

Asked about elections to the Congress Working Committee, Mistry said it depends on the next president and the plenary session of the Congress.

“When the plenary meets, if it decides to have an election of the CWC, there will be elections. But the president has to take a call on the CWC as well as the CEC (central election committee) but I am not in a position to comment on it today,” he said.

Kharge is considered the favourite for his perceived proximity to the Gandhis and backing by senior leaders, even as Tharoor has pitched himself as the candidate of change. 

14:39 17 Oct

Pratibha Singh casts her vote in presidential poll

Congress MP Pratibha Singh cast her vote for the presidential election at AICC headquarters in New Delhi. 

13:48 17 Oct

Madhusudan Mistry casts his vote for next Congress chief

Chairman of AICC Central Election Authority Madhusudan Mistry cast his vote at the AICC headquarters.

13:35 17 Oct

Former Lok Sabha speaker Meera Kumar casts her vote at AICC headquarters

Congress senior leader and former Lok Sabha speaker Meera Kumar cast her vote at the AICC headquarters.

12:12 17 Oct

Rahul Gandhi casts his vote for next Congress chief

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi cast his vote for next Congress chief.

12:09 17 Oct

Uday Bhan, Bhupinder Singh Hooda cast vote in presidential poll

Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and state party chief Uday Bhan cast their votes for the presidential election of the Indian National Congress at Haryana Pradesh Congress office in Chandigarh.

11:49 17 Oct

Manmohan Singh casts his vote in the Congress president election

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh cast his vote in the Congress president election.

11:17 17 Oct

Sonia Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra cast their vote

Congress president Sonia Gandhi cast her vote in the party's polls to elect her successor.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also accompanied her mother Sonia Gandhi and cast her vote.

10:51 17 Oct

Jairam Ramesh casts vote for Congress president

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also cast his vote for the next Congress chief at the AICC headquarters. 

Speaking on the occasion, he said that Congress presidential polls are free, fair and transparent. 

This is the polling booth at the #BharatJodoYatra campsite in Sanganakallu that will open at 10am. It is the meeting room container converted into a polling booth for the Congress Presidential elections. pic.twitter.com/3LvvALEHp9

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) October 17, 2022

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