Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief K.S. Alagiri has said he will be present when veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who is widely regarded as the “pick of the Gandhi family”, albeit unofficially, arrives in Chennai on October 14 to campaign for the Congress presidential poll.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Alagiri said the criticism that Shashi Tharoor, the other contender for the party president post, had not been received warmly by Congress big-wigs, could not be justified since “those who supported him were present”.
“It is an internal election of the party. The high-command has not given any direction on whom to support. The PCC (State unit) chiefs and working presidents have been told not to campaign for any candidate. It is not mandatory to be present when the candidates are in the city to campaign,” he said.
