Veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday indicated that he tried to convince his rival in the party's presidential election, Shashi Tharoor, to withdraw his candidature, saying he did tell Tharoor that it would be better if there is a consensus on one name.
Kharge, who addressed his first press conference after filing his nomination for the election to the post of Congress president, was responding to a question on whether he felt Tharoor should opt out of the election and if it is better to have a consensus candidate.
"It is his wish. I do not want to force anyone. He telephoned to congratulate me. I told him it would be better if there is a consensus on one name," said Kharge.
He further said: "He (Tharoor), however, said in a democracy, there should be a contest. So, I said ok. If any candidate is so keen on contesting, how can I discourage him? He is like a younger brother to me."
To a question on the perception that even after a non-Gandhi occupies the post of party president, the family will call the shots, Kharge said the family's contributions to the country and their sacrifices for it cannot be forgotten. He said if he is elected party president, he will consult the Gandhis and the other leaders.
Rejecting the idea that he is the unofficial 'official' candidate, the Congress veteran said that after it became clear that the Gandhis were not keen on contesting the election for the top post, many leaders and workers urged him to enter the fray. "I am a candidate for everyone. All are supporting me," he said.
On the support given to his candidature by members of the so-called G23 group of leaders, he said there is no such thing as G23 and that everyone was together in the fight against the ideology of BJP-RSS.
In response to a question on the Congress getting a potential second Dalit president in him, Kharge said it is wrong to project his Dalit identity when it comes to the presidential election. He said he is contesting in the capacity of a Congress worker. "I am not just a Dalit leader in the fray. I am a Congress leader who has put in 55 years of service…Don't bring that word in here."
Asked about Tharoor's remarks made in an interview, inviting him to an open debate, Kharge said, "I don't want to get into it. Whatever I have to say, I will say it with clarity. There are people who are intelligent and highly educated. They want to have a debate, but I only want to let my work do the talking."
Kharge will begin his campaign for the election tomorrow from Karnataka. He is slated to then proceed to Maharashtra. The election for the post of Congress President is scheduled for October 17. The results will be declared on October 19.