The contest between Shashi Tharoor, MP, and Mallikarjuna Kharge for the presidentship of the Congress party is yet to assume the contours of a narrow race in Kerala. Congress veteran A.K. Antony has seconded Mr. Kharge’s nomination, signalling that the veteran Dalit leader from Karnataka has the imprimatur of the Gandhi family. Many Congress insiders view Mr. Antony’s endorsement as a possible game changer that could buoy Mr. Kharge’s chances in Kerala.
They believe that the lingering loyalty to the Gandhi family will sway the organisational elections in Mr. Kharge’s favour. Both contestants will likely spend the next fortnight fishing for votes in the 281-strong electoral college comprising Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) members.
The political combat will unfold in a narrow battlefield circumscribed by the arguably inflexible framework of factional politics in the Congress in Kerala, triggering inner-party worry about another bitter grudge match between groups vying for ascendancy in the party.
