Kharge: Wanted consensus, but Tharoor sought contest

Steers Clear Of His Rival's Call For Debate

As his underdog rival in the Congress presidential election Shashi Tharoor sought a public debate on their visions, Mallikarjun Kharge, the frontrunner and putative successor to Sonia Gandhi, steered clear of the demand, saying the need of the hour is to fight the RSS-BJP, and not each other.

Tharoor said he was open to the idea of a debate and that it will evoke people's interest in the Congress like the interest generated by the recent leadership debate in the British Conservative party.

Kharge launched his campaign by addressing the media and unveiling his election agents-Deepender Hooda, Naseer Hussain, and Gourav Vallabh, on Gandhi Jayanti. When asked about Tharoor's invite, he said, "I don't want to get into that, I only know how to work, give me an opportunity to do that."