Editor's Pick: Congress to choose between Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor today

The Congress is all set to elect its first non-Gandhi chief in over 20 years as the party witnesses a contest between veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor in the presidential polls today. While voting is underway at State unit headquarters, a polling booth has been set up at the party headquarters for members of the Congress Working Committee and special arrangements have been made for those part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. No member of the Gandhi family is a candidate for the party’s top post for the first time in 24 years. The last contest that the party witnessed was in November 2000, when Sonia Gandhi had defeated her rival Jitendra Prasada by a huge margin. Both Mr. Kharge and Mr. Tharoor have been engaged in hectic campaigns, crisscrossing State capitals, to appeal to 9,000-plus Pradesh Congress Committee delegates who make up the electoral college for electing the party chief. Mr. Kharge, considered the firm favourite, has said a strong Opposition is needed to fight the BJP-led government and for strengthening democracy. Mr. Tharoor, who has pitched himself as “the candidate for change”, has said voting for him will send a message to the country that the Congress is ready to “change”. The counting of votes and declaration of results will take place in Delhi on October 19. Meanwhile, Praveen Chakravarty, a senior office bearer of the Congress, writes in The Hindu that the “thankless, complex and risky endeavour of inner party elections serves as a disincentive“ for most parties to attempt such an exercise. “...If inner party democracy was such a magic pill, why is it that no political party in India has embarked on it for so long?” he asks. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. Click here The Hindu’s Editorials Questionable urgency: On the Supreme Court’s stay on G.N. 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[Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( [Privacy Info]( Congress to choose between Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor today The [Congress is all set to elect]( its first non-Gandhi chief in over 20 years as the party witnesses a contest [between veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha member Shashi TharoorÂ]( the [presidential polls today.]( While[ voting is underway at State unit headquarters]( a polling booth has been set up at the party headquarters for members of the Congress Working Committee and special arrangements have been made for those part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. [No member of the Gandhi family is a candidate]( for the party’s top post for the first time in 24 years. The last contest that the party witnessed was in November 2000, when Sonia Gandhi had defeated her rival Jitendra Prasada by a huge margin. Both Mr. Kharge and Mr. Tharoor have been engaged in hectic campaigns, crisscrossing State capitals, to appeal to 9,000-plus Pradesh Congress Committee delegates who make up the electoral college for electing the party chief. Mr. Kharge, [considered the firm favourite]( has said a [strong Opposition is needed to fight the BJP-led government]( and for strengthening democracy. [Mr. Tharoor, who has pitched himself as “the candidate for change]( has said [voting for him will send a message]( to the country that the Congress is ready to “change”. The counting of votes and declaration of results will take place in Delhi on October 19. Meanwhile, Praveen Chakravarty, a senior office bearer of the Congress, writes in The Hindu that the “[thankless, complex and risky endeavour of inner party elections serves as a disincentive]( for most parties to attempt such an exercise. “...If inner party democracy was such a magic pill, why is it that no political party in India has embarked on it for so long?” he asks. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. [Click here]( The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][Questionable urgency: On the Supreme Court’s stay on G.N. Saibaba’s acquittal]( [Arrow][Fuel to the fire: On the Liz Truss government’s missteps]( The Hindu’s Daily Quiz Which international cricket team is the only team to have won the ICC T20 World Cup twice? - Australia - West Indies - South Africa - Sri Lanka To know the answer and to take the quiz, [click here]( Today’s Best Reads [[Explained | Why does the SC Collegium hold primacy over appointments and transfers?] Explained | Why does the SC Collegium hold primacy over appointments and transfers?]( [[Several explosions rock Kyiv; attacked by ‘kamikaze drones’, says Ukrainian presidency] Several explosions rock Kyiv; attacked by ‘kamikaze drones’, says Ukrainian presidency]( [[The shape of ‘Elon Musk vs Twitter’ story: how the saga unfolded] The shape of ‘Elon Musk vs Twitter’ story: how the saga unfolded]( [[Brazil's da Silva, Bolsonaro clash in 1st one-on-one debate] Brazil's da Silva, Bolsonaro clash in 1st one-on-one debate]( Copyright @ 2022, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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