Summary:
New Delhi, Sep 30 (PTI) Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday filed his nomination for the post of party president and said his electoral competitor Mallikarjun Kharge was a "candidate of continuity" and of "status quo", while those wanting change in party should vote for him.
Tharoor, 66, also said he is aware of his underdog tag and talk of an "official candidate" in some quarters but he has been told by the Gandhi family repeatedly that they are "neither directly nor indirectly" backing anyone.
Amid sound of drumbeats and fanfare, Tharoor made an entry at the AICC headquarters and submitted his papers to the party"s central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry.
Addressing a press conference at his residence after filing his nomination papers, the former Union minister called Kharge, who is also contesting and is being seen as the favourite to win, "Bhishma Pitamah" of the Congress in some ways.
"It is a friendly contest that is going to happen.
We are not enemies or rivals.
No disrespect to him but I will represent my ideas," the articulate and savvy Kerala MP told reporters.
Tharoor called Kharge, 80, a "candidate of continuity", an apparent reference to the impression that the Karnataka leader is the choice of the party high command.
"I am not surprised that the establishment is rallying behind the status quo.
If you want the status quo, I think you should vote for Mr.
Kharge.
If you want change and progress in the party with an eye to the rest of the 21st century, then I hope I will stand for that change," the Thiruvananthapuram MP said.
Tharoor asserted he has a vision to strengthen the party which should be a vehicle for "change".
Asked about Kharge"s candidature, Tharoor said, "He has been a terrific leader for many many years, he is the Bhishma Pitamah of our party in some ways.