CEA issues dos and don’ts for ‘fair’ Congress presidential election
The HinduIn an effort to ensure neutrality in the Congress presidential poll on October 17, the party’s Central Election Authority on Monday issued a code of conduct that barred office-bearers from campaigning for any candidate. The CEA’s note is significant in the backdrop of Mr. Kharge being labelled as an “establishment candidate” while Mr. Tharoor is viewed as the challenger of “status quo” in the party. Gehlot’s claim On Sunday, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, one of the proposers of Mr. Kharge, had described Mr. Tharoor as an “elite” and predicted a one-sided election in favour of Mr. Kharge. Mr. Mistry’s note said All India Congress Committee general secretaries/in-charges, secretaries, joint secretaries, PCC chiefs, Congress Legislature Party leaders, heads of frontal organisations, chiefs of departments, cells and all official spokespersons “shall not campaign for or against contesting candidates.” “If they wish to support any candidate, they must first resign from their organisational post, after that they participate in the campaign process,” the CEA guidelines said. “I welcome this announcement by @INCIndia Chief Election Authority on the party’s presidential elections,” tweeted Mr. Tharoor, adding that he had resigned as the chief of Professionals’ Congress last month.