Mallikarjun Kharge

In its 137-year-old history, Congress has held elections six times to elect the party chief. The last presidential polls were held in 2000 when the late ...

He was axed as the party chief after the Congress electoral defeat in 1998. Gandhi remains the longest-serving party chief with a break in 2017-2019 when her son Rahul assumed the post. Follow us on [also read] [Politics](https://www.firstpost.com/category/politics) [Never expected big leaders' support, but need everyone's backing: Shashi Tharoor on Congress president election](https://www.firstpost.com/politics/never-expected-big-leaders-support-but-need-everyones-backing-shashi-tharoor-on-congress-president-election-11384941.html) In its 137-year-old history, Congress has held elections six times to elect the party chief. Reddy had the backing of Indira Gandhi’s supporters. The ensuing estranged relationship between Gandhiji and Bose in the late 1930s was an unfortunate chapter in the history of the Congress.” On Monday, voting began in the Congress presidential polls as senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor face-off for the post of AICC chief But, after the drubbing of the party in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he resigned as the party president. But it created an awkward situation resulting in Gandhiji insisting that Sitaramayya’s defeat was his own defeat. Sonia Gandhi, who had become a primary member of the AICC in 1997, was asked to accept the top post, as per The Tribune. When has Congress in its nearly 137-year-old history conducted elections to elect party chief and who were the contestants? Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi & party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra cast their vote to elect the new party president, at the AICC office in Delhi [pic.twitter.com/aErRUpRVv0]