Congress President Poll Result: Mallikarjun Kharge set to be party's new chief; polls over 7,000 votes

The counting of votes is stopped and Congress leader Pramod Tiwari on October 19 announced that veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge has won the elections held to elect the party's new chief.

"Mallikarjun Kharge wins the Congress presidential elections with 7897 votes, Shashi Tharoor got about 1000 votes. Kharge has won with 8 times more votes," Pramod Tiwari said. Shashi Tharoor, who was pitted against Kharge conceded his defeat and wished the veteran leader "all success."

"It is a great honour and a huge responsibility to be President of @INCIndia &I wish @Khargeji all success in that task. It was a privilege to have received the support of over a thousand colleagues,& to carry the hopes& aspirations of so many well-wishers of Congress across India," Tharoor tweeted.

More than 9,500 delegates cast their votes in the presidential election which took place at the culmination of the party's organizational polls.

As per Congress sources, the elected president will take charge after Diwali festivals in the presence of senior leaders in a programme at the Congress headquarters.

(With agency inputs)