Assam: Believe in consultation and collective leadership says Kharge

Guwahati: Congress presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said he believes in “collective leadership” and will work with all members to take the party to new heights.
Addressing the North-East Congress members here, Kharge said that their main objective was to implement the ‘Udaipur Declaration’ and to empower people below the age of 50, including women and people belonging to OBCs. We have to bring ‘new blood’ into the party. , SC and ST.
“I believe in consultation and collective leadership… I don’t believe in people following me but want them to follow me.

We will work together to strengthen the party’s organizational set-up.

The Rajya Sabha MP said that Sonia Gandhi invited him to her home and asked him to lead the Congress.
“I told her that I can suggest three names but she said she is not asking for names and has asked me to lead the party,” the MP maintained.

Kharge said he agreed to contest because no member of the Gandhi family was willing to take over as party president.

“The contest is being held because both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi promised a democratic process, in which the delegates will elect the president,” he said.
He urged party members to remain united in their fight against the BJP, “which aims to divide the country and the opposition by using central agencies”.

“The Congress has to protect the legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru, which was earlier carried forward by Indira and Rajiv Gandhi.

“It is our duty to listen to Sonia Gandhi who has the knowledge and experience after 20 years at the helm of the party,” he added.
Kharge arrived here on Monday evening and was received at the airport by party state unit president Bhupen Bora, Congress Legislature Party leader Debbarta Saikia, Lok Sabha MPs Gaurav Gogoi and Abdul Khaleque and other senior state leaders.

He first met Congress leaders from Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya and discussed several issues with them, a party spokesperson said.