Congress Presidential Polls Highlights: Around 9,500 of about 9,900 delegates voted in polls, says Madhusudan Mistry

Track the latest news and updates on the Congress presidential polls as the grand old party gears up to elect its first president in 22 years.

Congress president polls held in open manner; other parties can learn lessons from it: Party election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry

Around 9,500 of about 9,900 delegates voted in polls, says Madhusudan Mistry

Voting trend favours Kharge: former TNCC chief

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has been the favourite among the voters in electing the party president during the poll for the top post that was held on Monday, former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president Su Thirunavukarasar has said. Referring to the trend in voting pattern, he said the polling started early today.

After casting his vote, Thirunavukarasar, also an MP, said the elections are being held in a transparent manner and Kharge is the most favourite of the two - the other being Shashi Tharoor. "The voting trend shows Mallikarjun Kharge is the favourite," he told reporters. - PTI.

Voting for Congress presidential elections ends

Telangana Congress leaders squat on steps of party headquarters over missing voter name

Two senior Telangana Congress leaders-former PCC president Ponnal Lakshmaiah and former Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha squatted on the steps of Gandhi Bhavan, state headquarters of the party protesting over a voter's name being missed in the AICC presidential elections voters' list.

The leaders alleged that one of the PCC delegates from Janagaon Assembly constituency who was issued a voter ID card was denied a vote in the presidential poll as his name did not figure in the electorate list. - PTI.

Maharashtra party chief Nana Patole, former state head Balasaheb Thorat cast vote

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole and former state unit head Balasaheb Thorat were among the first few leaders to cast their vote on Monday to elect the next All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief.

The delegates from the state include former chief ministers Sushilkumar Shinde, Prithviraj Chavan and Ashok Chavan. - PTI.

Rahul Gandhi should stop Bharat Jodo Yatra, focus on Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat: Francisco Sardinha

Congress MP and former Goa chief minister Francisco Sardinha on Monday said Rahul Gandhi should stop the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra and concentrate on the poll-bound states of Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. He claimed that Congress is the "only party" which can defeat the BJP.

“The Bharat Jodo Yatra is very important for the Congress. We want the party to grow at the grassroot level. He (Rahul Gandhi) has done a fantastic job, but now I want Rahulji to stop immediately and go to Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat where there are elections,” Sardinha told reporters in Panaji during polling for the All India Congress Committee (AICC) president's post. - PTI.

As Cong elects non-Gandhi chief, top leaders stress Gandhi family to play key role going forward

With theCongressset to elect its first non-Gandhi president in over 24 years, senior leaders on Monday stressed the Gandhi family's guidance will be crucial and will play an important role in the party in the days to come.

Elections are happening in a democratic way, everybody is voting according to their own will. Has this kind of election that is happening in Congress happened in any other party? saysSenior Congress leader Janardan Dwivedi, on Congress presidential poll.

I am standing for change: Shashi Tharoor on Cong prez poll

"I am standing for change",Congresspresidential poll candidate Shashi Tharoor said on Monday after casting his vote along with 264 other party delegates from the state. Of the total 310 delegates in Kerala, 264 cast their vote till 1 PM in favour of either Tharoor or his rival Mallikarjun Kharge, who has been openly supported by the senior party leaders in the southern state.

Congress presidential polls: 250 delegates cast vote in Gujarat till 1:30 pm

Around 250 Congress delegates out of the total 407 in Gujarat have so far voted for the polls underway on Monday to elect the next AllIndiaCongress Committee (AICC) president, a party spokesperson said. Congress veteran Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Shashi Tharoor are in the race for the top party post. Gujarat Congress president Jagdish Thakor and former state chief Amit Chavda were among those who exercised their franchise at the state party headquarters in Paldi area of the city.

Congress party has set an example for the country by conducting open, democratic and transparent elections. I believe whoever wins this election will get full support from all members of the party, says Rajasthan Congress MLA Sachin Pilot

Party leadership will remain. The new party president will decide how to take forward and implement the leadership's vision, says Congress leader Salman Khurshid at the AICC office in Delhi

My best wishes to Shashi Tharoor for prez polls, says Kharge

Voting going on smoothly, no complaints so far on polling from anywhere, says Madhusudan Mistry on Congress presidential polls

Satisfied with Cong's prez polls process; elections are free, fair, transparent, says Central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry to PTI

Cong presidential polls: Former CM Kamal Nath among early voters in MP

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath and his parliamentarian son Nakul Nath cast their votes on Monday soon after polling began to elect the next All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief. Veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge is pitted against party MP Shashi Tharoor for the Congress president's post. A total of 502 delegates from Madhya Pradesh are eligible to cast their votes in the polls. Voting was underway at the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee office in Bhopal since 10 am and will conclude at 4 pm.

Rahul Gandhi casts his vote to elect next party president

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel cast his vote to elect the new party president, at the AICC office in Raipur

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole casts his vote to pick new party prez

Manmohan Singh casts his vote to choose the new Congress president

"I have been waiting for a long time for this thing," says Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on the party's presidential election

Sonia Gandhi casts vote for prez polls

Sonia Gandhi and General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra cast their vote at the AICC office

Mallikarjun Kharge casts his vote in Bengaluru

It is a historic day for the Congress party. 490 people voting here today; polling going on in a transparent way. The country will benefit from this, says Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar, at Bengaluru

Prez polls gives message of internal harmony in party: Ashok Gehlot

Today is a historic day, the election for Congress president is taking place today after 22 years. This election gives the message of internal harmony in the party. My relation with Gandhi family will be same even after 18 Oct (day of counting of votes): Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

Congress is the only party to hold elections for its president, says Jairam Ramesh

Congress party is the only political party to hold elections for its president. This is a historic day. Rahul Gandhi will cast his vote in Ballari during Bharat Jodo Yatra. Party's interim president Sonia Gandhi is expected to cast her vote around 11am, saysCongress MP Jairam Ramesh.

Congress MPs Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh & other party leaders cast their votes at AICC HQ

It is a historic occasion, Congress only political party that has elections for post of president, says Jairam Ramesh after casting his vote

Today I spoke to Mr Kharge and said whatever has happened, we remain colleagues and friends, Tharoor said

Together we have to build the party: Mallikarjun Kharge

It is a part of our internal election. Whatever we said to each other is on a friendly note. Together we have to build the party. (Shashi) Tharoor telephoned me and wished me luck & I also said the same, saysCongress presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru.

Fate of Congress is in hands of party workers: Shashi Tharoor

I'm confident. The fate of the Congress party is in the hands of party workers. The odds have been stacked against us as the party leaders & establishment were overwhelmingly with the other candidate: Congress presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor, at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Congress presidential polls: Voting begins in Mallikarjun Kharge versus Shashi Tharoor contest

Congress party's Central Election Authority Chairman conducts final checks before voting for the party's presidential election begins

Voting for Congress prez polls to begin at 10 am

Cong prez polls: 280 delegates to cast their votes in Delhi Congress office

A total of 75 Congress delegates incl party's interim pres Sonia Gandhi, Gen Secy Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former PM Manmohan Singh & other CWC members & senior leaders will cast their votes in AICC headquarters, Delhi 280 delegates will cast their votes in Delhi Congress office.

Polling booth for Congress Prez elections in Ballari to open at 10 am

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi & former PM Manmohan Singh will vote in Delhi. Rahul Gandhi will vote at Bharat Jodo Yatra campsite, Bellari.

Explained | How the Congress's internal administration functions

The race for the top post in the Congress party saw high political drama unfold in Rajasthan after MLAs supporting Ashok Gehlot, one of the likely contenders in the party presidential polls, resigned to thwart Sachin Pilot's bid to become the chief minister.

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Explained: How the Congress president is elected

After over two decades, the Congress is likely to see a contest for the post of party chief with Shashi Tharoor looking set to enter the fray after his meeting with Sonia Gandhi, and Ashok Gehlot being seen as the other contender.

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History beckons as Congress gears up for 6th election for party president

Around 9,300 leaders and workers on Monday will choose between Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor as to who will be the new Congress president, as the party will witness the first contest in the last 22 years and sixth in its 137-year-old history.

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Won't hesitate from taking advice of Gandhis: Kharge

Veteran Congress leader, Mallikarjun Kharge said on Sunday that he would not hesitate from taking advice from anyone, including Gandhi family, in running party affairsif he wins the party president’s election that is slatedfor Monday.

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Embrace change, show courage: Shashi Tharoor in final appeal to Congress electors

Calling on electors to show courage to "embrace change", Congress' presidential polls candidate Shashi Tharoor on Sunday asserted that in the change he envisions, the party's "values and loyalties" will remain the same with only the ways of achievingthe goals undergoing a transformation.

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History beckons as Congress gears up for 6th election for party president

Around 9,300 leaders and workers on Monday will choose between Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor as to who will be the new Congress president, as the party will witness the first contest in the last 22 years and sixth in its 137-year-old history.

Read more