Congress Prez Poll Results: Mallikarjun Kharge Elected 1st Non-Gandhi Party Chief After 24 Years | Highlights

Total counted votes were 9,385, of which Mallikarjun Kharge received 7,897 votes & Dr Shashi Tharoor received 1,072 votes. Invalid votes- 416: Congress Central Election Authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry

I hereby declare Mallikarjun Kharge as the elected President of Congress: Madhusudan Mistry, Congress CEC Chairman

Mallikarjun Kharge wins party presidential poll to become first Non-Gandhi Congress chief after  24 years.

After Shashi Tharoor's team alleges malpractices in the conduct of elections, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said that the issues raised by Tharoor's team will be addressed by the party's election body, which will take the final decision.

In its complaint letter, team Tharoor, however, said that they don't have any evidence that Mallikarjun Kharge, Tharoor's rival in the polls, is aware of the malpractices done by his supporters. "We are certain that if he was aware, he would never allow what happened in Uttar Pradesh", the letter reads.

Irregularities flagged by team Tharoor: Use of unofficial seals for ballot boxes, presence of unofficial persons in polling booths, voting malpractice, no polling summary sheet, presence of AICC secretaries in-Charge of Uttar Pradesh.

Apart from Uttar Pradesh, Shashi Tharoor's team has also flagged the conduct of polls in Punjab and Telangana. Tharoor had repeatedly raised the issue of uneven playing field in the polls but maintained that Gandhis had assured him of neutrality.

Shashi Tharoor, running for Congress Presidential Polls, on Wednesday thanked all the voters who have voted during the Congress Presidential Polls.

As the counting begins in @INCIndia presidential elections, a big “thank you” from me to who all who contributed to making this historic event a landmark in the evolution of our politics. #ThinkTomorrowThinkTharoor #ChooseChangeChooseCongress pic.twitter.com/ABfLgVxNRV

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 19, 2022

Shashi Tharoor's election agent has written a complaint letter to the Congress Central Election Authority (CCEA) alleging serious lapses in the conduct of elections in Uttar Pradesh. In its letter, team Tharoor has demanded that "all votes from Uttar Pradesh should be deemed invalid".   

It's a historic moment. We're proud that we held poll in such a democratic manner.We also feel gratitude towards Sonia Gandhi who took charge of the party during a difficult time. In time to come,Congress will further strengthen: Gaurav Gogoi, counting agent of Mallikarjun Kharge

Delhi | We've been in constant communication with Madhusudan Mistry's office, informed them about many different issues, cannot get into its specifics right now: Salman Soz, election agent of Congress presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visits the Sri Ganga Bhavani temple in Adoni, Andhra Pradesh. 

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visits the Sri Ganga Bhavani temple in Adoni, Andhra Pradesh during the #BharatJodoYatra

(Source: AICC) pic.twitter.com/GMvqXCed70

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2022

The counting of votes has begun at the All India Congress Committee (AICC), the party's headquarters in New Delhi. The result will be announced by the Congress Central Election Authority by 4 pm today.

Congress Central Election Authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry arrives at the party HQ in Delhi. Counting of votes for the party's presidential election will begin shortly Gaurav Gogoi, counting agent of the party's presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge also arrives at the HQ

Congress sources said the elected president will take charge after Diwali in the presence of senior leaders in a programme at the Congress headquarters. It has not been decided whether the certificate will be given to the winner on Wednesday or later.

Mallikarjun Kharge is seen as the favourite to win the contest. Five agents from each side will oversee the counting while two agents from both sides will be kept in reserve.

The results of the Congress Presidential Polls will decide the first non-Gandhi party president after 24 years. The last non-Gandhi party president was Sitaram Kesari, who was over throned by Sonia Gandhi in 1998.

The result is likely to be declared between 3 pm to 4 pm. The ballot boxes from the state headquarters have reached the counting place in the Congress office. Sources said seven-eight tables will be set up for counting of votes and each table will have two persons.

Congress party to get its first non-Gandhi president in 24 years today; Counting of votes will begin at 10 am at the AICC headquarters in Delhi. Senior party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor are in the fray.