AICC Pres polls: Voting in Manipur, Assam

Who will win the race for the AICC top post? Well, one has to wait for October 19, the day when a new non-Gandhi president will be elected.

All eyes are set on as to who will be the next Congress chief as party leaders from different ranks across the nation casted their votes for the Change in Guard. It is a direct fight between veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge who is in the fray against MP Shashi Tharoor.

Meanwhile, Manipur Congress leaders including former Chief Minister and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Okram Ibobi Singh, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President K. Meghachandra, former MPCC president Gaikhangam were among the early voters for the AICC presidential elections. The electoral bench includes 54 party leaders.

Speaking to Northeast Live, former Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said that the AICC presidential election is one of the most free and fair election in the nation. Ibobi Singh said that only the Congress has inner democracy, which lacks in other parties including the BJP.

Responding a query about the election of a non-Gandhi President after decades, the Manipur CLP leader said that everything is happening within the family.

On the other hand, MPCC president K Meghachandra said that the election of a new president will strengthen the party more in the state as well as across the nation.

Also Read: Congress Presidential polls: It’s Kharge Vs Tharoor

Meghachandra said that after the election of the new AICC president, the Manipur Congress will begin the process of preparations for the 2024 elections. The Manipur Congress Chief hopes that the Congress will be able to bring the change across the nation.

Meanwhile, in Assam too, Congress leaders including state party chief Bhupen Bora, Rockybul Hussain, Debabrata Saikia, MP Abdul Khaleque besides others exercised their franchise in secret ballots.

Bhupen Bora said that the AICC presidential election signifies the values of democracy and depicts a picture of the Grand Old party’s transparency in the transformation of leadership.

Bora added that the party will expedite its preparations for the 2024 elections soon after the new AICC chief gets elected.

Besides, Bhupen Bora said that the Gandhis could have contested the elections and get elected, but stayed away from doing so only for the sake of strengthening and the larger good of the party.

On the other hand, Congress Lok Sabha MP Abdul Khaleque exuded confidence that Mallikarjun Kharge will sail through in the election. More than 200 Congress leaders from Assam will be voting for the AICC presidential election.

Over 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee delegates will vote in a secret ballot to pick the party chief.
Voting would also take place at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi and at over 65 polling booths across the country. The polling will begin from 10 am and will continue till 4 pm while counting of votes will be on October 19.

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