Ajay Kumar at 17:59, 7 August 2023

2023-08-07T17:59:10Z

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{{short description|Internal party poll to elect new party president}}
{{Distinguish|2022 Indian presidential election}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2022}}

{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2022 Indian National Congress presidential election
| country = India
| flag_image = [[File:INC Flag Official.jpg|50px]]
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2017 Indian National Congress presidential election
| previous_year = 2017
| election_date = 17 October 2022
| turnout = 95.78%<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-17 |title=Congress Presidential poll sees 95.78% turnout from delegates |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/congress-presidential-poll-sees-96-turnout-from-delegates-1154403.html |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>
| next_election =
| next_year = Next
| votes_for_election = 9915 [[Pradesh Congress Committee|PCC delegates]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-17 |title=Congress votes to elect its next party president |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/congress-votes-to-elect-its-next-party-president-101666030735877.html |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>
| 1blank = PCC delegates' vote
| image1 = File:The Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge (cropped).jpg
| candidate1 = '''[[Mallikarjun Kharge]]'''
| party1 =
| home_state1 = [[Karnataka]]
| candidate2 = [[Shashi Tharoor]]
| image2 = Sasi Tharoor 2021 at Kollam.jpg
| home_state2 = [[Kerala]]
| electoral_vote1 = '''7,897'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Congress President - Mallikarjun Kharge: 7897, Shashi Tharoor: 1072 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mallikarjun-kharge-is-new-congress-president-will-be-first-non-gandhi-to-hold-post-in-over-2-decades-3444883 |date=2022-10-19 |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=NDTV |language=en}}</ref>
| electoral_vote2 = 1,072
| title = [[List of presidents of the Indian National Congress|President]]
| before_election = [[Sonia Gandhi]]
| after_election = [[Mallikarjun Kharge]]
| percentage1 = '''84.14%'''
| percentage2 = 11.42%
}}

The '''2022 Indian National Congress presidential election''' was an internal party election that was held to elect the next [[List of presidents of the Indian National Congress|president]] of the [[Indian National Congress]]. The election was held on 17 October 2022 and counting of votes took place on 19 October 2022.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2022-08-28 |title=Congress president election to be held on Oct 17, CWC announces revised schedule |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/congress-president-election-to-be-held-on-oct-17-cwc-announces-revised-schedule-101661686816576.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> [[Mallikarjun Kharge]] won the election amassing 7,897 votes compared to 1,072 of [[Shashi Tharoor]].

The election was triggered by resignation of [[Rahul Gandhi]] as party leader on 10 August 2019. However, the party's [[presidium]], the [[All India Congress Committee]], elected former president [[Sonia Gandhi]] as interim president. Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the election for the next president was postponed until 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-10 |title=Elections for Congress party president further postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/may/10/elections-for-congress-party-president-further-postponed-due-to-covid-19-pandemic-2300770.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> The election was administered by the party's Central Election Authority headed by [[Madhusudan Mistry]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Phukan |first=Sandeep |date=2022-10-03 |title=Congress presidential polls {{!}} CEA issues dos and don'ts for 'fair' election |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-releases-guidelines-for-party-presidential-polls-office-bearers-cannot-campaign/article65966716.ece |access-date=2022-10-04 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Central Election Authority |url=https://inc.in/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=[[Indian National Congress]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Background ==

[[Rahul Gandhi]] was unanimously elected as president in [[2017 Indian National Congress presidential election|2017]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Rahul Gandhi elected Congress president unopposed, to take charge on Dec 16 |newspaper=[[Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rahul-gandhi-elected-congress-president-unopposed/articleshow/62021172.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109021611/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rahul-gandhi-elected-congress-president-unopposed/articleshow/62021172.cms |archive-date=9 November 2020 |date=11 December 2017 |access-date=31 August 2022}}</ref> However, following the party's poor performance in the [[2019 Indian general election]], Gandhi resigned.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Full text of Rahul Gandhi's resignation letter |newspaper=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rahul-gandhi-congress-president-resignation-full-text-statement-1561262-2019-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214125921/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rahul-gandhi-congress-president-resignation-full-text-statement-1561262-2019-07-03 |archive-date=14 December 2021 |date=3 July 2019 |access-date=31 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/latest/929278/rahul-gandhi-says-he-is-no-longer-congress-president-asks-party-to-choose-new-chief-without-delay|title=Rahul Gandhi says he is no longer Congress president, urges party to 'radically transform itself'|website=Scroll.in}}</ref> [[Sonia Gandhi]] was selected by the party's [[All India Congress Committee|presidium]] as the interim president. Sonia Gandhi is Rahul Gandhi's [[Nehru-Gandhi family|mother]], and was the party's longest serving president from 1998 to 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rahul Gandhi takes over as Congress president|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/rahul-gandhi-takes-over-as-congress-president/articleshow/62093451.cms|date=16 December 2017|access-date=12 November 2017}}</ref>

It was reported by news outlets that [[Rahul Gandhi]] was not likely to contest the election.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-20 |title=Rahul Gandhi unlikely to contest for Congress party president post: Report |url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/rahul-gandhi-unlikely-to-contest-for-congress-party-president-post-report-11663678041080.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rahul Gandhi not likely to contest Congress president polls |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/rahul-gandhi-not-likely-to-contest-congress-president-polls20220920190213/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=ANI News |language=en}}</ref> It was confirmed by Congress spokesperson [[Jairam Ramesh]] that Rahul Gandhi would not file nomination for the election.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-23 |title=In big hint, Congress indicates Rahul Gandhi won't contest president election {{!}} India News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/in-big-hint-congress-indicates-rahul-gandhi-wont-contest-president-election/articleshow/94357176.cms |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-21 |title='If Rahul Gandhi flies to Delhi on Sept 23, it won't be for…': Jairam Ramesh |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/on-if-ashok-gehlot-contests-in-congress-election-jairam-ramesh-says-101663743438858.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> Rahul Gandhi told [[Ashok Gehlot]] that no member of the [[Nehru–Gandhi family|Gandhi family]] should be the next President.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-23 |title=No Gandhi family member should be next Congress chief: Rahul Gandhi tells Ashok Gehlot |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/congress-presidential-poll-rahul-gandhi-ashok-gehlot-no-gandhi-should-be-party-chief-2003731-2022-09-23 |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

=== Prior elections ===
The last party presidential election was held in [[2017 Indian National Congress presidential election|2017]], which Rahul Gandhi won unanimously.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-04 |title=Rahul Gandhi chosen unanimously by 9,000 PCC delegates |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/congress-president-sonia-gandhi-rahul-gandhi-chosen-unanimously-by-9000-congress-workers-4967465/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> The last contested election was held in 2000, when Sonia Gandhi defeated [[Jitendra Prasada]] by a huge margin of 97%.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-30 |title=Congress prez poll: When Jitendra Prasada challenged Sonia Gandhi and lost |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/congress-prez-poll-when-jitendra-prasad-challenged-sonia-gandhi-and-lost-122083000423_1.html |access-date=2022-09-23}}</ref> She had been repeatedly selected for the position without any election being held.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-16 |title=The Long Reign Of Sonia Gandhi As Congress Party President |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/the-long-reign-of-sonia-gandhi-as-congress-party-president-news-230379 |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=www.outlookindia.com/ |language=en}}</ref>

=== Nomination ===
On 19 September 2022, it was reported that [[Shashi Tharoor]] and [[Ashok Gehlot]] were interested in running for the post. Both Tharoor and Ashok officially confirmed on 24 September that they would be running for the post. Gehlot and Tharoor confirmed they would file their nominations in the coming days. During the same day [[Sonia Gandhi]] met [[Anand Sharma]] a prominent leader of the [[G-23 (political group)|G-23]] on the discussion of the post and [[2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|Himachal Pradesh Election]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Phukan |first=Sandeep |date=2022-09-24 |title=Congress president election {{!}} Shashi Tharoor set to file papers next week |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/shashi-tharoor-gets-nomination-forms-collected-for-congress-president-poll/article65930424.ece |access-date=2022-09-29 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sudhi |first=K. S. |date=2022-09-23 |title=Ashok Gehlot announces run for Congress president, say Sonia Gandhi will pick his successor |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ashok-gehlot-announces-his-candidature-for-the-post-of-congress-president/article65926573.ece |access-date=2022-09-29 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-23 |title=Ashok Gehlot makes it official: Will contest for Congress top post |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/gehlot-makes-official-will-contest-for-cong-top-post-8168995/ |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> In the following days various reports emerged that [[Digvijaya Singh]] was looking to compete for the post and has started collecting signatures from party members for his nominations. During the process for nominations, multiple Congress MPs flew to Delhi to support various candidates. On 29 September, Digvijaya Singh officially announced he would be contesting for the post and that he would file his papers on 30 September.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Digvijaya Singh Is On. Congress President Polls Gets Another Contender |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/congresss-digvijaya-singh-joins-party-president-race-says-will-file-nomination-tomorrow-3387743 |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-29 |title=Congress president polls: Digvijaya Singh collects nomination forms, confirms he is contesting for chief's post |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/digvijaya-singh-congress-president-polls-nomination-8179984/ |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

Post Gehlot announcing his intentions to run for the post, multiple MLA in Rajasthan expressed dissatisfaction. Concerns over the government power in Rajasthan grew within the party, with pro-Gehlot MLAs planning on submitting resignations if [[Sachin Pilot]] were to become the CM.<ref>{{Cite web |title=After Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot To Meet Sonia Gandhi Later Today: Report |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/after-ashok-gehlot-sachin-pilot-to-meet-sonia-gandhi-later-today-report-3388042 |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Rajasthan government crisis: Main actors in Jaipur's political theatre |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/rajasthan-political-crisis-main-actors-in-jaipurs-political-theatre/articleshow/94463593.cms |access-date=2022-09-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-26 |title=Rajasthan Congress crisis Highlights: CM Gehlot not resigning today, will meet central leadership in Delhi this evening, says PS Khachariyawas |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajasthan-congress-crisis-live-updates-ashok-gehlot-sachin-pilot-loyalist-mlas-resignation-8173057/ |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> On 29 September, Gehlot met with Congress president Sonia Gandhi for an hour long meeting, post meeting Gehlot confirmed he will no longer be contesting for the post. Later reports emerged that former Jharkhand MLA, K. N. Tripathi was looking to enter the race which was confirmed few hours later.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Congress presidential polls: Former Jharkhand MLA K N Tripathi enters race |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/congress-presidential-polls-former-jharkhand-mla-k-n-tripathi-enters-race/videoshow/94533403.cms |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=The Economic Times |language=en}}</ref>

On 30 September, Shashi Tharoor and K. N. Tripathi officially filed their nomination for the post while Digvijaya Singh pulled out on the last minute. After various meetings from 28 to 30 September, several senior leaders decided to support [[Mallikarjun Kharge]] for the post. Singh and Gehlot who pulled out from the contest earlier announced they will be extending their support to Kharge, whereas Tripathi's nomination was rejected by the AICC Central Election Authority.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-30 |title=Congress President Elections: Shashi Tharoor, KN Tripathi file nominations |url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/congress-president-elections-live-updates-party-chief-sonia-gandhi-rahul-gandhi-ashok-gehlot-digvijay-singh-11352961.html |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=Firstpost |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" />

== Schedule ==
The election schedule was announced by the [[Congress Working Committee]] on 28 August 2022.<ref name=":2" />
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Event
! Schedule
|-
| Date of Notification
| 22 September 2022
|-
|Date for Nominations
|24 September 2022
|-
| Last Date for filing Nominations
| 30 September 2022
|-
| Date for scrutiny of nominations
| 1 October 2022
|-
| Last date for withdrawal of candidatures
| 8 October 2022
|-
| Date of poll
| 17 October 2022
|-
| '''Date of counting'''
| '''19 October 2022'''
|}

== Candidates ==
===Nominated===
{| class="wikitable" width="60%" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Candidate
! Political office
! Campaign announced {{small|(Nomination filed)}}
! Ref
|-
| [[File:Sasi Tharoor 2021 at Kollam.jpg|100px]] [[Shashi Tharoor]]
|[[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]] from [[Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency|Thiruvananthapuram]] {{small|(2009–present)}}
|24 September 2022 {{small|(30 September 2022)}}
|<ref name=sr>{{Cite web |date=September 19, 2022 |first1=Rajdeep |last1=Sardesai |first2=Supriya |last2=Bhardwaj |title=Shashi Tharoor to run for Congress president, gets Sonia Gandhi's nod: Sources |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/shashi-tharoor-to-run-for-congress-president-with-sonia-gandhi-s-nod-sources-2002129-2022-09-19 |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/shashi-tharoor-gets-nomination-forms-collected-for-congress-president-poll/article65930424.ece | title=Congress president election | Shashi Tharoor set to file papers next week | newspaper=The Hindu | date=24 September 2022 | last1=Phukan | first1=Sandeep }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Shashi Tharoor files nomination for Cong presidential poll, says he is for change while Mallikarjun Kharge is 'candidate of continuity' |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/shashi-tharoor-files-nomination-for-cong-presidential-poll-says-he-is-for-change-while-mallikarjun-kharge-is-candidate-of-continuity/cid/1889711 |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[Mallikarjun Kharge]]
|[[Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha]] {{small|(2021–2022)}} [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]] from [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Karnataka|Karnataka]] {{small|(2020–present)}}
| 30 September 2022 {{small|(30 September 2022)}}
|<ref>{{Cite news |others=PTI |date=2022-09-30 |title=Congress polls {{!}} Mallikarjun Kharge to contest, says Pramod Tiwari |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-president-polls-mallikarjun-kharge-to-contest-says-pramod-tiwari/article65953973.ece |access-date=2022-10-02 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-30 |title=Amid growing support, Kharge files nomination to contest Congress prez polls |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/growing-support-for-mallikarjun-kharge-in-congress-presidential-poll-contest-101664525193346.html |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=2022-09-30 |title=Kharge files nomination for Cong president poll |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/kharge-files-nomination-for-cong-president-poll/articleshow/94556538.cms |access-date=2022-10-02}}</ref>
|-
|}

===Rejected===
{| class="wikitable" width="72%" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Candidate
! Political office
! Campaign announced {{small|(Nomination filed)}}
! Nomination rejected
! Ref
|-
|[[File:K N Tripathi Congress.jpg|100px]] [[Krishna Nand Tripathi|K. N. Tripathi]]
|[[Jharkhand Legislative Assembly|Member of Legislative Assembly, Jharkhand]] from [[Daltonganj Assembly constituency|Daltonganj]] {{small|(2009–2014)}}
|29 September 2022 {{small|(30 September 2022)}}
|1 October 2022
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-30 |title=K N Tripathi: Ex-minister from Jharkhand stakes claim for post of Congress prez |url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/k-n-tripathi-the-former-minister-from-jharkhand-who-staked-claim-for-the-post-of-congress-president-5-points-11664524789928.html |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-30 |title=Former Jharkhand minister K N Tripathi files nomination for Congress presidential poll |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/former-jharkhand-minister-k-n-tripathi-files-nomination-for-congress-presidential-poll-1149689.html |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2022-10-01 |title=Former Jharkhand Minister KN Tripathi's Nomination For Congress Top Post Rejected |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/former-jharkhand-minister-kn-tripathis-nomination-for-congress-top-post-rejected-3395001 |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref>
|}

=== Withdrew ===
{| class="wikitable" width="75%" style="text-align:center"
!Candidate
!Political office
!Campaign announced
!Campaign suspended
!Ref
|-
|[[File:Ashok_Gehlot.jpg|100px]] [[Ashok Gehlot]]
|[[Chief Minister of Rajasthan]] {{small|(1998–2003, 2008–2013, and 2018–present)}} [[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly|Member of Legislative Assembly, Rajasthan]] from [[Sardarpura Assembly constituency|Sardarpura]] {{small|(1999–present)}}
|23 September 2022
|29 September 2022
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-23 |title=Ashok Gehlot makes it official: Will contest for Congress top post |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/gehlot-makes-official-will-contest-for-cong-top-post-8168995/ |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sudhi |first=K. S. |date=2022-09-23 |title=Ashok Gehlot announces run for Congress president, say Sonia Gandhi will pick his successor |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ashok-gehlot-announces-his-candidature-for-the-post-of-congress-president/article65926573.ece |access-date=2022-09-24 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-29 |title=Congress chief post: Ashok Gehlot opts out of the race for Congress President |url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/ashok-gehlot-says-he-will-not-contest-the-congress-president-elections-11664437835583.html |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-29 |title=Won't contest Congress chief polls, apologise to Sonia Gandhi: Ashok Gehlot |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/amid-congress-crisis-ashok-gehlot-meets-sonia-gandhi-sachin-pilot-next-101664441211823.html |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Digvijaya Singh (cropped).jpg|100px]] [[Digvijaya Singh]]
|[[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]] from [[Madhya Pradesh]] {{small|(2014–present)}}
|29 September 2022
|30 September 2022
| <ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-29 |title=Digvijaya Singh confirms Cong president poll bid, to file nomination tomorrow |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/digvijaya-singh-confirms-cong-president-poll-bid-to-file-nomination-tomorrow-101664434832014.html |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-30 |title=Congress prez poll: Digvijaya Singh opts out citing Kharge's decision to contest |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/congress-prez-poll-digvijaya-singh-opts-out-citing-kharge-s-decision-to-contest-101664521658441.html |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-30 |title=Congress president poll anti-climax: Digvijaya Singh pulls out; it's now Shashi Tharoor vs Mallikarjuna Kharge-Politics News , Firstpost |url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/congress-president-poll-anti-climax-digvijay-singh-pulls-out-its-now-shashi-tharoor-vs-mallikarjuna-kharge-11361601.html |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Firstpost |language=en}}</ref>
|}

=== Declined ===
*[[Sonia Gandhi]], [[President of the Indian National Congress]] (1998–2017, 2019–present), [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]] from [[Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency|Rae Bareli]] (2004–present)<ref name="Gehlot">{{Cite news |date=23 August 2022 |title=Sonia Gandhi urges Ashok Gehlot to 'lead' Congress |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-may-find-its-non-gandhi-chief-in-ashok-gehlot/article65802719.ece |access-date=31 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826000821/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-may-find-its-non-gandhi-chief-in-ashok-gehlot/article65802719.ece |archive-date=26 August 2022}}</ref>
*[[Rahul Gandhi]], [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]] from [[Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency|Wayanad]] (2019–present)<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

== Incidents ==
On the day of counting, Tharoor's team alleged [[electoral fraud]] and said that there were "extremely serious irregularities" in [[Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee]]. They also cited serious issues with polls in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and [[Telangana]]. Tharoor's chief election agent, Salman Soz further alleged that poll agents were threatened when reporting cases of voter malpractice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Livemint |date=2022-10-19 |title=Cong President LIVE: Tharoor's election agent alleges serious irregularities |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/congress-president-poll-results-2022-live-updates-mallikarjun-kharge-shashi-tharoor-rahul-gandhi-sonia-gandhi-11666147187739.html |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Livemint |date=2022-10-19 |title=‘Serious irregularities’ in Cong Chief poll, team Tharoor's 4 big allegations |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/serious-irregularities-in-cong-chief-poll-team-tharoor-s-4-big-allegations-11666164000179.html |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref>

After the allegations were leaked to the media, the Tharoor camp softened their stance and met with [[Madhusudan Mistry]], the Congress central election authority chairman. After the meeting, Soz was assured of a proper probe and the issue was dismissed by Mistry as a "general complaint" whose accusations were not specific.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mistry terms baseless Tharoor’s election complaint of voter fraud in UP |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/mistry-terms-baseless-tharoors-election-complaint-of-voter-fraud-in-up-442790}}</ref>

== Results ==
The results were announced on 19 October 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-19 |title=LIVE: Shashi Tharoor concedes Congress president poll defeat, wishes Mallikarjun Kharge 'all success' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/congress-presidential-polls-live-results-shashi-tharoor-mallikarjun-kharge-rahul-gandhi-sonia-gandhi-october-19-latest-news-101666140143855.html |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>

:
<section begin="Results"/>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right" |
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan=2|Candidate
! colspan="2"|PCC Delegates' vote
|-
! style="width: 100px"|Votes
! style="width: 90px"|%
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| style="width: 170px; text-align:left" | '''[[Mallikarjun Kharge]]'''
| '''7,897'''
| '''84.14%'''
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" |
| style="width: 170px; text-align:left" |'''[[Shashi Tharoor]]'''
| 1,072
| 11.42%
|-
| colspan=2|Invalid votes
| 416
| 4.43%
|-
| colspan=2|'''Votes counted'''
| '''9,385'''
!
|}<section end="Results"/>

== See also ==
* [[List of presidents of the Indian National Congress]]
* [[85th Plenary Session of the Indian National Congress]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:2022 elections in India]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress events]]
[[Category:October 2022 events in India]]

2022 Indian National Congress presidential election - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 17:59, 7 August 2023