Announcing his withdrawal, Tharoor said 62-year-old Ban was a clear winner and is going to be the next Secretary General succeeding Kofi Annan.
Tharoor, the UN Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information, got ten votes in favour while three casted negative votes in the 15-member security council. Two others said they have no opinion.
Among the three negative votes casted against him, one was from a permanent member, which would translate into a veto in a formal vote.
Tharoor said he sent a letter of congratulations to Ban on his success. He also thanked the Indian government for nominating him for the coveted post. He also thanked the press and people for the strong support he received from them and said he plans to concentrate on what he is doing in the UN.
Asked whether he would consider going back to India in view of such an honour done to him, he said he was busy campaigning and hence had no "Plan B." But that is a possibility, he told the questioner.
Moon, who was the winner in the three previous straw polls in the Council, got 14 votes in favour and one no opinion. The final poll will be held on October nine.
Except the South Korean, all other candidates had one or more permanent members voting against them, which amounts to a veto.
