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NEW DELHI:An ex-United Nations diplomat and a veteran politician emerged on Friday as contenders to lead India's main opposition Congress party as it prepares to elect a new president from outside the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty for the first time in nearly 25 years.
Shashi Tharoor, a three-term federal lawmaker who previously served as a U.N. Under-Secretary General, said he had submitted nomination papers to lead the 137-year-old party.
The Congress has been presided over for the most part by a member of the Gandhi family. The Congress played a key role in helping to lead India's campaign for independence from Britain, which was won in 1947 and dominated Indian politics for decades after.
Following the resignation of her son of Sonia Gandhi Rahul from the office in July 2019, Sonia Gandhi is now serving as the party's temporary president.
The party's fortunes have declined as a result of losing two straight federal elections since 2014 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has also ousted the Congress from power in various states.
In a predominantly Hindu India, the BJP has long argued for a hard right nationalist stance and an end to what it claims is appeasement of minority groups. A secular polity has traditionally been supported by the Congress.
Veteran Congressman Mallikarjun Kharge, who is presently the opposition leader in India's upper chamber of parliament and is seen as a Gandhi family supporter, will oppose Tharoor's candidacy.
Also submitting nomination papers is a former state lawmaker from eastern Jharkhand.
The Gandhis would maintain their neutrality, according to Madhusudan Mistry, the Congress official in charge of overseeing the party election. According to Mistry, "the Gandhi family has not approved anyone's nomination."
Around 9,000 party delegates across the country will vote for a new Congress president on Oct. 17, with results likely to be declared two days later.
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