As Congress presidential election closes in, its Tharoor vs Gehlot

As the Congress party presidential election, comes in, it might come down to Shashi Tharoor VS Ashok Gehlot.

Shashi Tharoor, loyal to Gandhi family, a former Union Minister and a part of G-23 that wrote to Sonia Gandhi for reform in organisation structure is definitely going to run for president after receiving the blessing from Sonia Gandhi. The election is set for October 17 and Tharoor has full support from Sonia Gandhi.

His strongest competition is Ashok Gehlot, the current Rajasthan Chief Minister, another Gandhi loyalist, had been one of the strongest proponent fro Rahul gandhi's return. He is likely to get the support from all those supporting Rahul Gandhi's return.

Rahul Gandhi has made it sure that anybody is welcome to contest. This will be the first time in two decades that Congress will see a non-Gandhi president. Rahul Gandhi, who is on the 'Bharat dodo' Yatra has said that he will not compete for the post inspite of repeated requests by state divisions and also Ashok Gehlot. Ruling party BJP is calling it a ruse to relaunch Rahul Gandhi, and changes are expected soon as the election nears by.

The move comes in as small parties like Aam Aadmi Party and Trinamool Congress are eyeing a position as strong as Congress. Repeatedly, both the parties have had intentions of eliminating Congress from opposition and taking over, but none of them are Congress enough to do that till now.

While TMC is the majority power in West Bengal, Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party is eyeing Gujarat after Delhi & Punjab and the result of the Gujarat election will go a long way in deciding whether AAP has the potential for a grand stage.

Sonia Gandhi took over from Sitaram Keshri in March, 1998 who was the last non-Gandhi president.