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BIG STORY OCTOBER 21, 2022 | The Indian Eye 4

MALLIKARJUN KHARGE

CAN HE REVIVE

CONGRESS?

After winning the party’s presidential election with ease and big margin, the veteran has his
task cut out as he sets to revive the grand old party. Can he work independently without the

support of Gandhis? Can he unite the divided and weakened party?

president. This is the first time when
OUR BUREAU
Rahul Gandhi will be back in Del-
New Delhi hi since the beginning of the party’s
Bharat Jodo Yatra.
allikarjun Kharge will take Kharge has his task cut out as
charge as the President of
Mthe Indian National Con- the party faces several electoral and
organizational challenges. A man of
gress (INC) on October 26 (Wednes- vast organizational and administrative
day) at All India Congress Committee experience, Kharge entered the elec-
(AICC) headquarters. All Congress toral fray for the party’s top post after
Working Committee members, Mem- Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Ge-
bers of Parliament, Pradesh Congress hlot opted against contesting. A lead-
Committee presidents, Congress Leg- er who has risen from the grassroots,
islative Party leaders, former Chief Kharge belongs to the Dalit commu-
Ministers, former State presidents nity and will the second leader from
and other AICC office bearers are in- Karnataka to hold the top party post
vited to the programme. after S Nijalingappa became the Con-
Kharge, 80, won the Congress
presidential polls on Wednesday as gress president in 1968.
In over five decades experience
he got 7,897 votes as against his op- in active politics, Kharge has been a
ponent Shashi Tharoor who received union minister, Congress leader in
1,072 votes, thus becoming the first Congress leader Sonia Gandhi greets Mallikarjun Kharge after his victory in New Delhi (ANI) Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and has
non-Gandhi to take over the office af- held several portfolios in Karnataka
ter 24 years. Kharge changed his Twit- vision of India. “Congratulations to the country’s democracy by conduct- where he was MLA nine times.
ter bio to “President: Indian National Mallikarjun Kharge ji on being elect- ing organizational elections” at a time A combative, articulate and ac-
Congress” on Thursday. ed as the President of @INCIndia. when “democracy is in danger” in the cessible politician who is comfortable
On Wednesday, Chairman of The Congress President represents a country.
Congress Central Election Commit- democratic vision of India. His vast Now, Kharge’s work begins and both in Hindi and English, Kharge has
been a strong critic of the BJP-led gov-
tee (CEC) Madhusudan Mistry de- experience and ideological commit- he faces massive challenges. Kharge ernment.
clared that Kharge has been elected ment will serve the party well as he will visit poll-bound states like Him- He faces major challenges to
the new president of the party. “The takes on this historic responsibility,” achal Pradesh and Gujarat soon. At work out strategies in terms of Con-
total counted votes was 9,385 of which Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet. the same time, after October 30, Con- gress revival in Hindi heartland states
Mallikarjun Kharge received 7,897 Prime Minister Narendra Modi gress will show its strength in Himach- of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as also
votes and Shashi Tharoor received on Wednesday extended his best wish- al and Gujarat elections. Between Oc- in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The
1,072 votes. 416 were invalid votes. As es to former union minister Mallikar- tober 31 and November 10, Congress Congress has seen an erosion in its
per Article 18 (D) of the Constitution jun Kharge on his election as Con- leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will base in some other states including in
of Indian National, I hereby declare gress chief and wished him a fruitful hold four rallies and four road shows the northeast. AAP is also seeking to
Mallikarjun Kharge as the elected tenure. “My best wishes to Shri Mal- in Himachal. October 31 was specially emerge as a challenger in some states.
President of Congress,” Mistry said. likarjun Kharge Ji for his new respon- chosen by Priyanka because former While Kharge’s immediate chal-
Outgoing chief Sonia Gandhi and sibility as President of @INCIndia. prime minister Indira Gandhi was as-
party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra May he have a fruitful tenure ahead,” sassinated on this day. lenges are the assembly polls in Hi-
machal Pradesh and Gujarat which
reached Kharge’s residence to con- PM Modi said in a tweet. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will go the polls later this year, several
gratulate him. Rahul Gandhi also con- Soon after his poll victory, will participate in the function to be other states including his home state
gratulated Kharge and said Congress Kharge said that the party has pre- held at AICC on October 26 when
President represents a democratic sented an “example of strengthening Kharge takes charge as Congress Continued at next page... >>

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