Mallikarjun kharge

The Congress party’s victory in Karnataka has rekindled the question of who the next Chief Minister will be: Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar? Both the leaders have played an important role in the election campaign and time will tell who the high command chooses to elevate. However, there is a third leader without whose presence, Congress may have found it difficult to win: Mallikarjun Kharge. The 82-year-old national president of the Congress party left no stone unturned in his home state, being active in both on-ground campaigning as well as strategising. Most importantly, Kharge’s presence was instrumental in making greater inroads among Dalit voters, and in keeping the party united. The BJP, on the other hand, reduced its tally of SC seats from 16 in 2018 to 12 this time and failed to win a single ST seat. This despite the tinkering the BJP government did with the reservations in the state—increasing SC reservation from 15 per cent to 17 per cent and ST reservation from 3 to 7 per cent ahead of the polls. BJP’s strategic lapses not withstanding, Kharge was pivotal in Congress’ improved performance among the two communities, particularly the SCs. According to the India Today-Axis My India exit poll, the Congress secured 60 percent of the Dalit votes, a gain of 14 percentage points from the last election. Kharge, one of the tallest Dalit leaders in the Congress, had played a key role in opening backchannel talks with the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS), which subsequently came...

As the ruling BJP and the opposition continued to trade barbs over the triple train collision in Odisha’s Balasore, Congress president Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.(ANI) Read: The Rajya Sabha MP slammed Vaishnaw for involving CBI, which he claimed lacked the technical expertise in railway safety, signalling, and maintenance practices, to probe a train accident. "The CBI is meant to investigate crimes, not railway accidents. The CBI, or any other law enforcement agency, cannot fix accountability for technical, institutional and political failures," he argued. Kharge compared the incident to 2016 when the then railways minister asked the National Investigation Agency to investigate the derailment of a train in Kanpur in which 150 people were killed. “The nation is still in the dark – who is responsible for 150 avoidable deaths?” he asked. The Congress leader also pointed out that nearly 3 lakh posts were lying vacant in Indian Railways. “Vacant posts pose a threat to the assured jobs of people who belong to SC / ST / OBC and EWS,” he stated. Kharge wondered how the railway ministry ignored a letter written by the principal chief operations manager of South Western Railway in February highlighting Referring to last year’s In the four-page letter, the former railways minister also demanded to know the reason for merging the Budget for Indian Railways with the Union Budget in 2017-18 and asked, “Has this not adversely affected the autonomy and decision-making capacity ...

By India Today News Desk: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the PM’s silence on Manipur violence was “rubbing salt in the wounds of its people”. His remark came a day after three people were killed in a village in Imphal West district as tensions continued in violence-hit Manipur. Talking to Twitter, Mallikarjun Kharge said, “3rd May 2023 - Violence first broke out in Manipur. It took almost a month for you to Earlier this week, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh asked why the prime minister did not encourage an all-party delegation to visit Manipur. "There appears to be no letting up in the enormous disaster that has engulfed Manipur for the past seven weeks. The Home Minister visited belatedly after a month and the nation must be thankful for small mercies," Ramesh said on Twitter. ALSO READ | "But why is the Prime Minister still silent? Why doesn't he visit the state and make an appeal for reconciliation between communities? Why can't he at least encourage an all-Party delegation to go to Manipur?" he also asked. Clashes first broke out in Manipur on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. while tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside i...

Taking charge as the first non-Gandhi Congress president in 24 years, Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday declared that the party will demolish the current regime’s “system of lies, treachery and hatred” and quoted Rahul Gandhi’s slogan ‘ daro mat’ as a morale booster for party workers. Passing on the baton, outgoing party chief Sonia Gandhi, who steered the party for over two decades, noted that “change is the rule of the world”. “Today, I will be freed of this responsibility and this weight will be off me and that is why it is natural that I am feeling relieved,” she said. Soon after Mr. Kharge formally assumed office, all the existing members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) tendered their resignation to allow the new president to have his own team. In keeping with the provisions of the party constitution, the new Congress chief constituted a 47-member Steering Committee to function until a new CWC is in place. All the previous CWC members, however, have now become members of the Steering Committee. At least half of the new CWC members are expected to be elected. Senior leader Anand Sharma said that even Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chiefs to be elected as well. Mr. Kharge, 80, who defeated Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor in the presidential contest, was awarded the certificate of election at a function attended by a host of top leaders, including all the three members of the Gandhi family. ‘Icon of sacrifice’ The taking-over ceremony also acknowledged the contri...

NEW DELHI: Mallikarjun Kharge formally took over as the national president of the Congress party on Wednesday. The veteran leader was handed over the certificate of election to the top post at an event at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi. Kharge's marks the first election of a non-Gandhi to the post in 24 years. Kharge had defeated Thiruvananthapuram MP Mallikarjun Kharge sweeps Congress president poll, gets 7,900 to Shashi Tharoor's 1,000 votes NEW DELHI: Mallikarjun Kharge was on Wednesday expectedly elected new Congress president after he trounced rival Shashi Tharoor in a landslide in the party's internal elections, bringing down the curtains on the extended tenure of Sonia Gandhi and giving the party its first non-Gandhi head in 24 Kharge takes charge: Uphill task for him and Congress Pledged my full support, cooperation to Mallikarjun Kharge in taking Congress forward: Shashi Tharoor NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who lost out to Mallikarjun Kharge in the party's presidential race, on Wednesday pledged his full support and cooperation to the new AICC chief in taking the party forward. Kharge, the first non-Gandhi to head the party in 24 years, formally took The times are challenging, but Congress has to fight: Mallikarjun Kharge The likely next Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge says the guidance of the Gandhi family is required as Sonia has served as party chief for nearly 20 years. In an exclusive interview to TOI, Kharge says that after par...

Seen by many as a candidate propped up by the Nehru-Gandhi family because of the trust he enjoys, Kharge has had a remarkable political career sustained by personal integrity, struggle and hard work. Few leaders in India have won nine consecutive Assembly elections, in addition to two terms in the Lok Sabha. The 80-year-old who defeated the flamboyant Tharoor was in the reckoning for the chief minister’s post thrice in Karnataka but remained steadfast despite losing out. As the leader of Opposition and the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, he could have blackmailed the central leadership for the chief minister’s post but did not. “Mallikarjun Kharge has completed 50 years in electoral politics. He has distinguished himself as a legislator and minister in the state and at the Centre. He is a shining symbol of social empowerment inspired by Nehru, Ambedkar, Indira Gandhi and Devaraj Urs. Kharge’s victory in the Congress presidential election is a triumph for the forces who place ideological commitment over personal glory,” party communications chief Jairam Ramesh said after the results. Rahul, who is on the Bharat Jodo Yatra, tweeted: “Congratulations to Mallikarjun Kharge ji on being elected as the president of Congress. The Congress president represents a democratic vision of India. His vast experience and ideological commitment will serve the party well as he takes on this historic responsibility.” Kharge will now occupy the office graced by such illustrious...

• Also read in: • Emotional moment for me… son of labourer takes over as Congress chief: Mallikarjun Kharge Speaking about the upcoming elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, Mallikarjun Kharge said that people want change in these states. "We will have to show our party's strength in these elections... We are the soldiers of Mahatma Gandhi, we are not scared of anyone." Mallikarjun Kharge Wednesday took charge as the first non-Gandhi Addressing party workers as the chief for the first time, Kharge said, “It’s an emotional moment for me as the son of a labourer, a common Congress worker, has taken over as chief of the Congress party. I thank you all for this honour.” “I started this journey in 1969 as a block committee chief today you have taken it such heights. It’s my privilege and pride to take forward the legacy of Congress, a party which has been guided by the likes of Mahatama Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru,” Kharge said. Road to 2024 | “As president, it will be my utmost duty to look after our workers. Together, we will build an India that will be enlightened, empowered and equal for every citizen. We will uphold the Constitution of this country, respect everyone’s rights and give equal opportunities, defeat those who spread hate, and fight Speaking about the upcoming elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, Kharge said that people want change in these states. “We will have to show our party’s strength in these elections. If we all work hard and with dedication w...

Taking charge as the first non-Gandhi Congress president in 24 years, Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday declared that the party will demolish the current regime’s “system of lies, treachery and hatred” and quoted Rahul Gandhi’s slogan ‘ daro mat’ as a morale booster for party workers. Passing on the baton, outgoing party chief Sonia Gandhi, who steered the party for over two decades, noted that “change is the rule of the world”. “Today, I will be freed of this responsibility and this weight will be off me and that is why it is natural that I am feeling relieved,” she said. Soon after Mr. Kharge formally assumed office, all the existing members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) tendered their resignation to allow the new president to have his own team. In keeping with the provisions of the party constitution, the new Congress chief constituted a 47-member Steering Committee to function until a new CWC is in place. All the previous CWC members, however, have now become members of the Steering Committee. At least half of the new CWC members are expected to be elected. Senior leader Anand Sharma said that even Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chiefs to be elected as well. Mr. Kharge, 80, who defeated Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor in the presidential contest, was awarded the certificate of election at a function attended by a host of top leaders, including all the three members of the Gandhi family. ‘Icon of sacrifice’ The taking-over ceremony also acknowledged the contri...

Soon after the election results were announced, Tharoor congratulated Kharge in a letter and termed the election as a ‘true celebration of inner-party democracy.' "The revival of the party has begun today," Tharoor said. Kharge will replace Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving party president who has been at the helm since 1998, barring the two years between 2017 and 2019 when Rahul Gandhi had taken over. With no Gandhi family members in the fray, the election came three years after Rahul Gandhi resigned from the top post citing the Lok Sabha poll debacle in 2019. Kharge will take charge on October 26. Congress central election authority chairman Mistry on Monday expressed satisfaction with the party's presidential polls process, saying it was "free, fair and transparent". He also said it was a secret ballot and no one would get to know who voted for whom. The election is significant for the party as an internal election to the top post is taking place after nearly two decades. READ HERE | The last election for the post of Congress chief was held in 2000 when Sonia Gandhi defeated her opponent Jitendra Prasada by an overwhelming majority. Meanwhile, congratulations poured in for Kharge from many senior leaders and celebrations erupted outside AICC headquarters in the capital. Outgoing Congress president Sonia Gandhi also visited Kharge at his residence here soon and congratulated him. She was accompanied by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. In his congratulato...

BENGALURU: Popularly known as "Solillada Saradara" (a leader without defeat) in his home-State of Karnataka Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge, who on Friday filed nomination for the Congress' presidential polls, is a hardcore loyalist of the Gandhi family. If elected, he will be the second AICC president from Karnataka after S Nijalingappa, and also a Dalit leader to hold the post after Jagjivan Ram. A leader with more than 50 years of experience in politics, 80-year-old Kharge, who was elected MLA for nine times in a row, has seen a steady rise in his career graph from humble beginnings as a union leader in his home-district of Gulbarga, now Kalaburagi. In 1969, he joined the Indian National Congress and went on to become president of the Gulbarga City Congress Committee. That Kharge was unconquerable at the hustings was mirrored until 2014 Lok Sabha polls in which he bucked the Narendra Modi wave that swept Karnataka, particularly Hyderabad-Karnataka region, and had won from Gulbarga with a margin of over 74,000 votes. He has won from Gurmitkal Assembly constituency nine times in a row before he plunged into the Lok Sabha poll arena in 2009 and has been a two-time MP from Gulbarga parliamentary segment. However, in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls the veteran leader was defeated by BJP's Umesh Jadhav in Gulbarga by a margin of 95,452 votes. READ HERE | That was the first electoral loss in Kharge's political life spanning several decades. A hardcore Congressman loyal to the Gandhi famil...