Sonia Gandhi responds to Shashi Tharoor's wish to contest the party president election

New Delhi : Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has reportedly got a green signal from Sonia Gandhi to contest in the upcoming poll for the party president's post.

Sonia-Tharoor meeting
According to sources, Tharoor, during the meeting with Sonia Gandhi, expressed his wish to contest the elections scheduled to be held on October 17 to "make internal democracy" in the party stronger, news agency ANI reported.

Open to all: Sonia Gandhi
Gandhi, in response, gave her nod to the Thiruvananthapuram MP and said that anybody can contest elections.

Tharoor's G-23 connection
Tharoor is one of the signatories of a letter written to Sonia Gandhi by the G-23 group (seeking reforms in the party).

Democratic and transparent process: Jairam Ramesh
Congress General Secretary in Incharge of Communication Jairam Ramesh while speaking to ANI about Tharoor's candidature said that anybody who wants to contest is free and welcome to do so. "This has been the consistent position of CP (Congress President) and RG (Rahul Gandhi). This is an open, democratic and transparent process. Nobody needs anybody's nod to contest," said Ramesh.

The meeting with Sonia Gandhi took place after Tharoor welcomed a petition seeking party reforms.

Clamour for Rahul Gandhi
Several leaders have expressed their demand that Rahul Gandhi accept the position. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Mallikarjun Kharge is of the opinion that Rahul Gandhi should take the lead of the Congress party since he has the ability to lift the party from the crisis.

The election of the Congress president post will be held on October 17 as per the decision of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). The counting of votes will be done on October 19.

(With ANI inputs)