Rahul Gandhi said I must run for Congress president, says Shashi Tharoor

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress presidential election candidate Shashi Tharoor said that Rahul Gandhi asked him to run for the post. He added that some party leaders asked Rahul to encourage the withdrawal of Shashi Tharoor's candidature.

"He also told me that some persons have asked him to request me to withdraw my candidature. He told me he will not do so. He said I should not withdraw and that I should contest the election. He reminded me that he has been saying so for the past 10 years that there should be a contest for the party chief's post," said Tharoor.

Tharoor told the media that he never expected the big leaders to support him but at the same time, he needs everyone's backing. He was speaking after Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K Sudhakaran publicly declared his support for Mallikarjun Kharge.

He confirmed that he will not be withdrawing from the election because it will be betraying those who supported him till now. " I met party workers at Nagpur, Wardha, and then Hyderabad. They are the ones asking me to contest and not back away from it. I assured them I will not back away. I will not betray those who have supported me till now. Their confidence in me is what gives me the strength to move forward."

He clarified that while the majority of his supporters are young workers, he needs support from everyone and will not discount anyone. He added that K Sudhakaran's public support for Kharge may be to discourage others from supporting him.

"Maybe. But I am not saying that. I do not need to decipher what is going on in people's minds. I will say one thing, whatever one says secretly or publicly, the ballot is secret. No one is going to know who voted for whom. People can vote according to their wishes and beliefs. They can decide whom they want to strengthen the party and prepare it to counter the challenges it would face in the future," said Tharoor.

The poll is to be held on October 17. Votes will be counted and the results will be declared on October 19. Over 9,000 delegates will be casting votes.