Team News Riveting
Kochi, October 4
The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, K Sudhakaran has publicly declared his support for veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge for the party chief’s post.
His party colleague from the state and Thiruvananthapuram Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor is contesting against him. The only candidate in the fray against Kharge, Tharoor failed to get support even in his home state.
Responding to a question whether Sudhakaran’s public support for Kharge was meant to discourage others from supporting him, Tharoor said, “Maybe. But I am not saying that. I do not need to decipher what is going on in people’s minds. I will say one thing, whatever one says secretly or publicly, the ballot is secret.
“No one is going to know who voted for whom. People can vote according to their wishes and beliefs. They can decide whom they want to strengthen the party and prepare it to counter the challenges it would face in the future.” Regarding Sudhakaran’s statement, he said the KPCC chief probably expressed his personal decision and preference and “there is nothing wrong with that.”
“He cannot give a direction which is clear from the circular issued by the party debarring party office-bearers from campaigning for candidates. But please don’t ask me about it. If the election authority wants to do something about it, it is up to them,” Tharoor, who is in Kerala as part of the poll campaign, told reporters.
