New Delhi: Congress Presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor claimed during an interview on Tuesday that delegates (members of the electoral college) have been instructed by their leaders to support his rival Mallikarjun Kharge. However, Tharoor said in his claim that the members of the delegates who have been instructed by their leaders can vote in their favor during the secret ballot. He said those who are expecting a unilateral victory for the 'Pratishthan' in this election like in the 1997 and 2000 elections, will be surprised when the counting of votes takes place on October 19.

Thiruvananthapuram MP and Congress Presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor said he expects a public explanation from Central Election Authority (CEA) Chairman Madhusudan Mistry that the election will be held by secret ballot, sealed before candidates and their agents in Delhi. The ballot boxes will be opened and all the ballot papers will be mixed before the counting of votes begins. He said, 'I hope Madhusudan Mistry gives clarification on this in the coming days.'

Let us tell you that the voting for the post of Congress President will be held on October 17 and counting of votes will be done on October 19. Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor are its candidates. Kharge's claim is considered strong. When asked whether there are some leaders who are not openly supporting senior leaders due to fear of getting angry, but can vote for them. In response to this question, Shashi Tharoor said that I know many people who have not openly supported me due to many reasons, but have expressed their support personally.

Shashi Tharoor claimed that some of his (supporting delegates) have instructed him to support my opponent and he feels that he cannot openly disregard his leaders. So many people can vote for me in the end. Senior Congress leader Tharoor, 66, said that many delegates have expressed their feelings in private and they see no reason not to support them even though the vote is secret.

"It is true that secret voting is important to allay the fear of many people who still believe that their political patrons will find out who they voted for," he said. My high command had assured that there is no official candidate. So why should my colleagues be afraid to vote for me?'. He said that those who are expecting a unilateral victory in this election like in 1997 and 2000, they are going to be surprised on 19 October. He said that I will not look at the election result as a shock and a personal victory, because I have already said that whether I win or Kharge ji wins, it only matters that Congress wins.

It is noteworthy that in the election of Congress President in the year 1997, Sitaram Kesari defeated Sharad Pawar and Rajesh Pilot in a triangular contest, while in the 2000 elections, Sonia Gandhi defeated Jitendra Prasad badly. Asked why most of the senior party leaders were seen standing with Kharge, Shashi Tharoor said that the Gandhi family has authorized Madhusudan Mistry to convince the candidates about secret ballot and publicly discuss it. Declare, as he has done time and again, to do anything contrary to it would be wrong.

According to Shashi Tharoor, leaders and workers have complete freedom to have their own preference...I leave the matter of gross violation of guidelines by some office bearers to the Central Election Authority and the media. Referring to the debate with Kharge, he said that I agree with him that our real difference is not with each other, but with the BJP. I have been saying that this is not a contest between rivals, but a friendly contest between allies, who have different visions of taking the party forward. Tharoor said he had agreed to the idea of ​​the debate only so that those who are interested can know about the vision of the candidates in terms of the future of the party.