Rahul Gandhi

Khage however, did not want to make any direct comments on his opponent in the poll- Tharoor or his campaign, and merely said that, everyone has the right to speak about their merit, while seeking support, like he has been highlighting his connection with the party's grassroots level.

Senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor are pitted against each other and have been crisscrossing various state capitals to woo the over 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates who comprise the electoral college for electing the party chief.

Many co-marchers, including Congress legislators, district INC committees, workers, cadres and support staff, are astonished at the energy level Rahul Gandhi has displayed en route the yatra. The routine that he followed during the last 1000 kilometres has motivated many co-marchers.

Earlier, the 80-year-old Congress leader said he decided to enter the fray for the top post after members of the Gandhi family refused to contest the poll and he wanted to strengthen the party. The contest is set to take place on October 17 in every state capital through a secret ballot.

"Someone spread this rumour to discredit the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, and myself. She has clearly said that she will not contest the party elections or support any candidate," said Mallikarjun Kharge, the party's presidential candidate.

Tharoor reiterated that the Gandhi family have made it clear that they are staying above the fray and are neutral, and have also asked the party spokespeople and the party's central election authority to announce that.

Mallikarjun Kharge, who proudly recalled his several decades' old association with the party, underscored that he has entered the fray while holding the view that former Congress president Rahul Gandhi should have taken up the mantle.

Earlier on Monday, the Congress delegation met the EC and conveyed that no violation of the Representation of the People Act was done during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and children were not used for campaigning. The party also slammed the NCPCR's complaint against it as "frivolous" and "baseless'.

The Congress on Saturday announced that an electoral contest would take place between Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor on October 17 with both candidates not withdrawing their nominations, the deadline for which has ended.

AICC general secretary of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said that the central election authority has decided to set up a polling booth at the campsite in Bellary where all delegates will vote. Karnataka PCC delegates will vote in Bengaluru on October 17.