Pune, July 22: As the leadership crisis in the Congress continues to intensify, an outsider from Maharashtra has thrown himself as one of the contenders to succeed Rahul Gandhi. 28-year-old Gajanand Hosale, an engineer from Pune, has intended to file an official application tomorrow to register himself as a candidate to lead the grand old party.

"Things can’t change themselves or by talking about it. There's need for a leader. If I get a chance, I'll make sure work is done and there'll be absolute transparency," he said. Sushil Kumar Shinde May Replace Rahul Gandhi As Next Congress President: Reports

Hosale is the second person to openly project himself as the Congress president. A similar assertion was made last month by former union minister and Hockey olympian Aslam Sher Khan, who claimed that he would use his experience in public life to revive the party.

Update by ANI:

Hosale, who works as a manager in a Bengaluru head-quartered manufacturing firm in Pune, is planning to submit his application form to the city unit president of Congress, Ramesh Bagwe, on Tuesday.

"As Rahul Gandhi is firm on his decision to step down as the president of the Congress, the party is in a great confusion whom to appoint the new chief and in such a scenario, I wish to file my nomination for the post," said Hosale.

He added that the "revival" of Congress is the need of the hour for the country and for that young leadership is required.

"As (Rahul) Gandhi said that the party needs young leadership, I feel that the party needs a president who is not only young by age, but also at heart and in terms of thinking as well," he said.

He also said that since the Congress currently has no president, several workers are going away from the party and due to this, the party's overall performance taken a hit.

When asked whether he had any experience in the field of politics or whether he was associated with any social organisation through which he has worked for any cause, he answered in the negative.

He, however, said that he comes from a rural background and as an individual, he has confronted officials on many issues.

Hosale added that he is not even a primary member of the Congress and he was never affiliated to the party in any capacity.

"Before applying for the president's position on Tuesday, I will complete the procedure of primary membership of the party," he said.

When asked why he can't join the party as its member and work, he said that if he starts working as a common party worker or leader, chances are that he can be sidelined.

"As a party president, my thrust will be on transparency and given a chance, I am sure I will revive the party from the current crisis as I have a blueprint for it," he said.

Invoking German philosopher and economist Karl Marx, Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Hosale said that India can become a welfare state using the doctrines of these three great personalities.

(With PTI inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2019 07:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).