Congress contender Mallikarjun Kharge quits from the Rajya Sabha

Digital Desk: Mallikarjun Kharge resigned from his role as the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha shortly after submitting his nomination for the Congress President election, which will be conducted on October 17. 

In accordance with the Congress's "one person, one post" rule proclaimed at the Udaipur Chintan Shivir, he informed the grand old party's functioning President Sonia Gandhi that he is resigning from the position in the upper chamber. Last night, he wrote to Sonia Gandhi.

The Rajya Sabha Chairman will be informed of the selection of a new leader by Mrs. Gandhi, the chairperson of the Congress parliamentary party.

Mr. Kharge, who is 80 years old, is a candidate supported by the Gandhis and is almost set to win the election as the Congress chooses its first non-Gandhi president in 25 years.

He squares off against Shashi Tharoor, a crucial figure in the 'G-23' opposition movement. Notably, a number of the G-23 presidents have formally endorsed Mr. Kharge.

The third candidate in the race, former Jharkhand minister KN Tripathi, has also submitted his paperwork. After meeting with Mr. Kharge in the morning, Digvijaya Singh, who picked up his candidacy papers on Thursday, decided to withdraw from the race.

According to sources, the Gandhis may choose to abstain from voting in the internal election in order to retain their impartiality.

It has been made clear by Shashi Tharoor that he has no animosity toward Mallikarjun Kharge. He continued, "We are not adversaries, we are comrades," referring to him as "Bhishma Pitamah of the Congress." He did, however, refer to Mr. Kharge as a candidate of continuity and promised, if elected, to transform the culture of the party's top command.