Three candidates are in the fray for the much awaited Congress presidential election. On Friday, three senior party leaders - Mallikarjun Kharge, Shashi Tharoor and KN Tripathi filed their nomination papers for the Congress presidential election. 

"Election process for the President of Indian National Congress is underway, earlier today LoP RajyaSabha Shri @kharge and MP LokSabha Dr @ShashiTharoor filed their nominations. And ex-minister, Jharkhand, Shri @KNTripathiJH also filed his nomination today," the Congress party tweeted on Friday.

While appreciating party's interim president Sonia Gandhi for her guidance and vision, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor termed it a privilege to serve the "only party in India with an open democratic process" to choose its leader.

"I have just submitted my nomination papers as a candidate for the presidential election of @incindia.. It is a privilege to serve the only party in India with an open democratic process to choose its leader. Greatly appreciate Soniaji’s guidance & vision," Shashi Tharoor tweeted on Friday.

Shashi Tharoor will kick off his campaign for the party's presidential election from Nagpur on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Kharge has quit as leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha on Saturday. He has sent his resignation to the party's interim president. Kharge, if elected, will become the second Dalit Congress chief after Jagjivan Ram.

The Congress presidential election will be held on October 17 and the counting of votes will held on October 19.