Not remote-controlled: Mallikarjun Kharge; Shashi Tharoor offers debate, Mallikarjun Kharge rejects

Kharge's rival candidate Shashi Tharoor, meanwhile, suggested a public debate between the two, but Kharge declined and revealed that he had suggested to Tharoor to leave the fray in order to achieve "consensus" on the top party post, but Tharoor preferred a contest.