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Mallikarjun Kharge: Taking Charge In Troubled Times

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2022-10-20 03:20:28

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.

As expected, Mallikarjun Kharge, the 80-year-old Gandhi family loyalist from Karnataka swept the Congress presidential polls by securing 7897 valid votes against the 1072 secured by his rival Shashi Tharoor. After a brief campaign in which neither candidate spelled out his agenda or discussed policy matters, Kharge, who had the backing of the Congress high command, sailed through easily, making him the third Dalit to head the party and the first non-Gandhi to be Congress chief in 24 years.

Kharge was congratulated on his win by all, including Prime Minister Modi. Rahul Gandhi also tried to deflect the criticism that Kahrge will be a rubber-stamp president and the real authority will remain with the Gandhi family by saying that the Congress president is the supreme authority and everyone reports to him. He also said that Kharge will decide his role in the party and how he will be deployed.

Kharge assumes charge at a time when the Congress is facing a total wipe out. Its vote share is declining all over the country; it remains in power in just Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and most importantly, its clout as the major opposition party that was a glue for opposition unity has been eroded significantly with many regional parties willing to form a third front that does not include the Congress.

Hence, Kharge will have to spell out his agenda is detail, set up an experienced team and get down to work. His first test will be the ensuing state polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. With Rahul Gandhi generating a lot of goodwill for the party through his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Kharge needs to build on that and take the party forward. But first he will have to strike a workable relationship with Rahul Gandhi and ensure that he is given enough freedom to work on the agenda decided after internal consultations. 

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