Cong prez polls: Over 90% PCC members cast vote in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Over 90% PCC members of the state Congress on Monday cast their votes at party state headquarters Sathyamurthy Bhavan to elect the next national president of the Congress party.

Close to 660 of the 711 PCC (Pradeep congress committee) members were learnt to have cast theirs votes in Sathyamurthy Bhavan. A couple of them involved in Bharat Jodi Yatra and leaders like former union finance minister P Chidambaram exercised their franchise in their respective locations. If sources in the state Congress party to be believed, close to 95% voters had picked old timer Mallikarjuna Kharge, who is considered a nominee of the Gandhis, over Shashi Tharoor. “Less than 50 PCC members backed by Sivaganga MP Karti Chidamabaram, one of the proposers of Tharoor, have voted for the MP from Kerala. The rest have thrown their weight behind Kharge solidly in TNCC,” said a senior congress leader after casting his vote on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, Karti Chidambaram told media persons at Bhavan that the results could spring a pleasant surprise on October 19.

“659/711 PCC delegates of @INCTamilNadu voted in Chennai. I am pleased with the conduct of the polling. I would like to thank everyone who heeded our appeal and voted for Dr @ShashiTharoor MP. I believe we have polled well, the count will be a pleasant surprise! @INCIndia,” posted Chidambaram junior on his official a Twitter handle. “I am very very happy that inner party elections are happening. It adds credibility and vibrancy to the party. Two credible candidates are contesting. Whoever wins will take the party forward. My support is for Tharoor who has a huge support base and following outside the party. That section will start noticing what the Congress does, ” Karti added.Over 90% PCC members of the state Congress on Monday cast their votes at party state headquarters Sathyamurthy Bhavan to elect the next national president of the Congress party.

Close to 660 of the 711 PCC (Pradeep congress committee) members were learnt to have cast theirs votes in Sathyamurthy Bhavan. A couple of them involved in Bharat Jodi Yatra and leaders like former union finance minister P Chidambaram exercised their franchise in their respective locations. If sources in the state Congress party to be believed, close to 95% voters had picked old timer Mallikarjuna Kharge, who is considered a nominee of the Gandhis, over Shashi Tharoor. “Less than 50 PCC members backed by Sivaganga MP Karti Chidamabaram, one of the proposers of Tharoor, have voted for the MP from Kerala. The rest have thrown their weight behind Kharge solidly in TNCC,” said a senior congress leader after casting his vote on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, Karti Chidambaram told media persons at Bhavan that the results could spring a pleasant surprise on October 19.

“659/711 PCC delegates of @INCTamilNadu voted in Chennai. I am pleased with the conduct of the polling. I would like to thank everyone who heeded our appeal and voted for Dr @ShashiTharoor MP. I believe we have polled well, the count will be a pleasant surprise! @INCIndia,” posted Chidambaram junior on his official a Twitter handle. “I am very very happy that inner party elections are happening. It adds credibility and vibrancy to the party. Two credible candidates are contesting. Whoever wins will take the party forward. My support is for Tharoor who has a huge support base and following outside the party. That section will start noticing what the Congress does, ” Karti added.