Congress presidential election candidate Shashi Tharoor will be in Gujarat on Wednesday to campaign for the upcoming poll to the top party post.

Besides Congress MP Tharoor, veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge is also in the race for the party president's post, the election for which is scheduled on October 17.

The result will be announced on October 19.

Tharoor will begin his Gujarat visit by paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad on Wednesday afternoon.

Thereafter, he will interact with Congress delegates and media, as per the schedule shared by the party.

Kharge was in Gujarat last week to campaign for the Congress president post election. He had also paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram before meeting party delegates.

Tharoor is pitted against Mallikarjun Kharge, who is being seen as a favourite for the top party post because of his perceived proximity to the Gandhi family.

On Tuesday, Tharoor claimed that many electors have been instructed by "their leaders" to support his rival but they may eventually vote for him in a secret ballot.

Tharoor said, "I certainly know that many who have not openly supported me so far for such reasons, including not even attending some of my campaign events, have privately expressed support."

"Some of their 'leaders' in the party, to whom they are beholden, have instructed them to support my rival and they feel they cannot defy these 'netas' openly. Many such people may eventually choose to cast their vote in my favour," Tharoor added.