Senior Indian National Congress parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor, who lost the presidential election in the party against Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday (17) by some distance, praised the latter after the results were declared and said that he felt the revival of the party "has truly begun today".
Speaking of Kharge, 80, the parliamentarian from Kerala said that the former "brings ample leadership and experience to the table" and showed confidence that under the guidance of Kharge, the grand-old party can reach new heights.
Tharoor, a former minister in the government of Manmohan Singh, also thanked Sonia Gandhi, who had been serving as the interim president, for her contributions to the party.
In a statement issued just after the result was announced, Tharoor also thanked his own team of party colleagues "for their amazing efforts against impossible odds to keep our campaign going".
"It is a great honour & a huge responsibility to be President of @INCIndia &I wish @Kharge ji 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," the 66-year-old tweeted.
In another tweet, he said, "Called on our new President-elect Mallikarjun Kharge to congratulate him and offer him my full cooperation. Congress has been strengthened by our contest."
Tharoor also thanked former president Rahul Gandhi and party's general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for ensuring "free and fair elections" and added that the Nehru-Gandhi family will always hold a special place in the hearts of the Congress's members.
Kharge received 7,897 votes while Tharoor polled 1,072 ballots.
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