Despite Kharge's nomination, Tharoor refuses to withdraw from the Cong presidential race

Digital Desk: It would be absurd to suggest that Shashi Tharoor is running for president of Congress only for the notoriety that could result from it, despite the fact that some members of his party do. The unkind opinion is that while the election struggle would help the party highlight its internal democracy, October 19, the counting day, would be embarrassing for Tharoor.

Additionally, there is pressure on Shashi Tharoor to resign from the race in favour of Mallikarjun Kharge in order to demonstrate agreement and unity, which some claim would assist restore the party's "high command dignity after the Rajasthan incident and benefit party members."

Kharge's name was suggested on Friday by a few of Tharoor's fellow "G23" signatories. Manish Tewari, one of them, praised Digvijaya Singh for "gracefully" withdrawing from the race in support of Kharge. Tharoor is being told to follow suit by the hints.

Tharoor declared after submitting his nomination that he had not gone to the inconvenience of doing so merely to withdraw it later. "I have party workers' signatures from a dozen states," the speaker said. 

Only his office staff and party representatives, most of whom were unfamiliar, attended Tharoor when he presented his forms, as opposed to the group of leaders that flocked to the Congress headquarters when Kharge filed his papers. 

According to Tharoor, the party might be reenergized by a new leader who isn't "jaded by being entrenched within the current system for too long." He appeared to be cognizant of the difficulty. But occasionally, he continued, "one must have the courage of one's beliefs to act morally, regardless of the likelihood of success."