The Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, has appealed to the people of his home district of Kalaburagi. He requested them to attend his funeral if they believed he worked for them, even if they didn’t wish to vote for the party candidate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Kharge, who won the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and 2014 but lost in 2019, has stated that he will remain a part of politics until his last breath to fight against the BJP and RSS ideologies.
Tag: Kharge
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Cong condemns attack on Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Assam, accuses BJP of trampling people’s rights
The Congress on Saturday condemned the attack on the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Assam “by BJP goons” and accused the ruling party in the state of seeking to “trample and demolish” every right and justice guaranteed by the Constitution to the people of India. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the party will not be cowed down by such tactics aimed at intimidating its workers and leaders.
“We strongly condemn the shameful attack on the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra vehicles and tearing of the Congress party’s banners and posters by BJP goons in Lakhimpur, Assam,” he said in a post on X.
“In the last 10 years, the BJP has attempted to trample and demolish every right and justice guaranteed by the Constitution to the people of India. It wants to subjugate their voices, thereby hijacking democracy,” he added. Kharge said the Congress will not be cowed down by this tactic of attack and intimidation “by the BJP government in Assam, which is responsible for this”. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal also shared a video of the purported attack and said, “Want more evidence of how scared ‘MostCorrupt’ CM Himanta is of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra? Look at his goons vandalise our Congress posters and vehicles!” “He’s so rattled because of the huge impact the Yatra is making, he will stoop to any level,” he said. The Congress alleged that banners and posters welcoming its ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ to Assam’s North Lakhimpur town, through which it will pass on Saturday, have been vandalised.
The Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi, is on its third day’s journey in the state and will pass through several parts of the Lakhimpur district, including the headquarters town of North Lakhimpur, before entering Arunachal Pradesh later in the day.
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Tharoor ‘horrified’ by BJP leader Araga Jnanendra’s remarks on Kharge’s complexion
By Online Desk
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said that he was “horrified” to see the remarks of former Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra about the Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Tharoor said that this kind of language is despicable and has “no place in our politics.”
Shocked by the remarks of former BJP Minister AragaJnanendra about @INCIndia President @kharge: pic.twitter.com/iSVlzZCE4n
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 5, 2023
“If you have a problem with someone in our party criticize what they have said, criticize what they have done, criticize what they stand for,” Tharoor said, and added, but “to criticize the colour of their skin, to criticize their origins, is shameful and it shows the low levels to which politics has succumbed in the hands of our opposition party in Karnataka…,” Tharoor said in a video released on social media.According to reports, on August 2, Jnanendra had referred to Kharge as a “burnt man” (due to the hot weather in his native Jewargi region in the state’s Kalaburagi district). Jnanendra later expressed regret for any hurt he had caused, saying that he did not intend to target Kharge specifically.
Based on a complaint lodged by Harshendra Kumar, a Dalit community leader, the Kalaburagi police have booked Araga Jnanendra for his remarks against Kharge.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said that he was “horrified” to see the remarks of former Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra about the Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Tharoor said that this kind of language is despicable and has “no place in our politics.”
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Shocked by the remarks of former BJP Minister AragaJnanendra about @INCIndia President @kharge: pic.twitter.com/iSVlzZCE4n
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 5, 2023
“If you have a problem with someone in our party criticize what they have said, criticize what they have done, criticize what they stand for,” Tharoor said, and added, but “to criticize the colour of their skin, to criticize their origins, is shameful and it shows the low levels to which politics has succumbed in the hands of our opposition party in Karnataka…,” Tharoor said in a video released on social media.According to reports, on August 2, Jnanendra had referred to Kharge as a “burnt man” (due to the hot weather in his native Jewargi region in the state’s Kalaburagi district). Jnanendra later expressed regret for any hurt he had caused, saying that he did not intend to target Kharge specifically.
Based on a complaint lodged by Harshendra Kumar, a Dalit community leader, the Kalaburagi police have booked Araga Jnanendra for his remarks against Kharge.
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Kharge calls meeting to discuss support for AAP over Centre’s ordinance on Delhi services
By IANS
NEW DELHI: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has called a meeting of the party leaders on May 29 to discuss whether the party needs to support Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the Centre’s ordinance to negate the Supreme Court judgement on placing ‘services’ under the control of the state government in the national capital.
According to party sources, Kharge has called a meeting of the party leaders to discuss the issue on May 29 at 10.30 a.m.
The meeting comes in the wake of the request from Kejriwal, who is also the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi over the ordinance issue.
In a tweet on Friday, Kejriwal said, “Sought time this morning to meet Congress President Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Congress support in Parliament against undemocratic and unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP government and also to discuss the general assault on the federal structure and prevailing political situation.”
After the request from the AAP leader, Congress sources on Friday said that the party is still considering his request.
On Monday night, Congress general secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal said, “The Congress Party has not taken any decision on the issue of the Ordinance brought against the SC judgment on the powers of the Government of NCT of Delhi with respect to the appointment of officers. It will consult its state units and other like-minded parties on the same. The Party believes in the Rule of Law and at the same time does not condone unnecessary confrontation, political witch-hunt and campaigns based on lies against political opponents by any political party.”
Many Congress leaders from Delhi and Punjab have opposed supporting Kejriwal over the issue. Senior Congress leaders like Ajay Maken, Sandeep Dikshit and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had already echoed that the party should not support AAP.
Kejriwal has already met Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal(U) leader Nitish Kumar along with his deputy and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on May 21. Both the leaders have announced to support the AAP over the ordinance issue.
On Tuesday, Kejriwal travelled to West Bengal to meet his counterpart and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and seek her support. Banerjee also announced her support for the AAP leader.
The AAP leaders also travelled to Maharashtra and met former chief minister and Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar separately. Both leaders have also extended their support to Kejriwal’s party.
Kejriwal is also supposed to travel to Hyderabad to meet Bharath Rashtra Samithi leader and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao seeking his support over the issue on Saturday.
Kejriwal has last week urged the opposition parties to not let the Bill over the ordinance to pass in Rajya Sabha for the people of Delhi.
The Central government has brought an ordinance to set up a permanent authority known as the National Capital Civil Service Authority whose chairperson will be Delhi chief minister, who, along with the chief secretary, Delhi, Principal Secretary (Home), Delhi, will make recommendations to the Delhi L-G regarding matters concerning transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters. However, in case of a difference of opinion, the decision of the L-G shall be final.
ALSO READ | AAP slams Delhi Congress for ‘politics of convenience’ on Centre’s ordinance on Delhi services
On May 11, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court ruled that it is ideal to hold that a democratically elected Delhi government should have control over its officers and the L-G is bound by the advice of the elected government in everything other than public order, police, and land. The top court stressed that if the government is not able to control and hold to account the officers posted in its service, then its responsibility towards the legislature, as well as the public, is diluted.
The ordinance came after the apex court gave the Delhi government control in services matters, including transfer and posting of officers.
NEW DELHI: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has called a meeting of the party leaders on May 29 to discuss whether the party needs to support Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the Centre’s ordinance to negate the Supreme Court judgement on placing ‘services’ under the control of the state government in the national capital.
According to party sources, Kharge has called a meeting of the party leaders to discuss the issue on May 29 at 10.30 a.m.
The meeting comes in the wake of the request from Kejriwal, who is also the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi over the ordinance issue.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
In a tweet on Friday, Kejriwal said, “Sought time this morning to meet Congress President Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji to seek Congress support in Parliament against undemocratic and unconstitutional ordinance passed by BJP government and also to discuss the general assault on the federal structure and prevailing political situation.”
After the request from the AAP leader, Congress sources on Friday said that the party is still considering his request.
On Monday night, Congress general secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal said, “The Congress Party has not taken any decision on the issue of the Ordinance brought against the SC judgment on the powers of the Government of NCT of Delhi with respect to the appointment of officers. It will consult its state units and other like-minded parties on the same. The Party believes in the Rule of Law and at the same time does not condone unnecessary confrontation, political witch-hunt and campaigns based on lies against political opponents by any political party.”
Many Congress leaders from Delhi and Punjab have opposed supporting Kejriwal over the issue. Senior Congress leaders like Ajay Maken, Sandeep Dikshit and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had already echoed that the party should not support AAP.
Kejriwal has already met Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal(U) leader Nitish Kumar along with his deputy and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on May 21. Both the leaders have announced to support the AAP over the ordinance issue.
On Tuesday, Kejriwal travelled to West Bengal to meet his counterpart and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and seek her support. Banerjee also announced her support for the AAP leader.
The AAP leaders also travelled to Maharashtra and met former chief minister and Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar separately. Both leaders have also extended their support to Kejriwal’s party.
Kejriwal is also supposed to travel to Hyderabad to meet Bharath Rashtra Samithi leader and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao seeking his support over the issue on Saturday.
Kejriwal has last week urged the opposition parties to not let the Bill over the ordinance to pass in Rajya Sabha for the people of Delhi.
The Central government has brought an ordinance to set up a permanent authority known as the National Capital Civil Service Authority whose chairperson will be Delhi chief minister, who, along with the chief secretary, Delhi, Principal Secretary (Home), Delhi, will make recommendations to the Delhi L-G regarding matters concerning transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters. However, in case of a difference of opinion, the decision of the L-G shall be final.
ALSO READ | AAP slams Delhi Congress for ‘politics of convenience’ on Centre’s ordinance on Delhi services
On May 11, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court ruled that it is ideal to hold that a democratically elected Delhi government should have control over its officers and the L-G is bound by the advice of the elected government in everything other than public order, police, and land. The top court stressed that if the government is not able to control and hold to account the officers posted in its service, then its responsibility towards the legislature, as well as the public, is diluted.
The ordinance came after the apex court gave the Delhi government control in services matters, including transfer and posting of officers.
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People have voted “furiously” against BJP’s ‘bad’ administration: AICC chief Kharge
By PTI
BENGALURU: AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday termed Congress’ good show in the Karnataka Assembly polls as a victory of “Janata Janardhana”, saying people have voted “furiously” against BJP’s “bad administration” in the state.
He said all the newly elected Congress legislators have been asked to reach here by this evening and the due process of the government formation will be followed.
“We have sent a message to everyone (newly elected persons) to come by this evening. They all will come here by this evening and once they come, they will be instructed on the due course. After that, the high command will send observers (and) after that the due processes (for government formation) will follow,” he told reporters here.
Congress’ good show was a “Janata Janardhana Victory”, he said, crediting the people for the party’s apparent return to power as it established a clear lead ahead of its rival BJP.
The counting of votes polled in the May 10 Assembly elections in the state was taken up on Saturday.
ALSO READ | CM Bommai concedes defeat, says will come back stronger in LS polls
“People themselves have got up and supported us, they have voted for us furiously against the bad administration. This shows voters of Karnataka are awakened. Despite the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), Home Minister (Amit Shah), dozens of Ministers, Chief Ministers of other states camping here, and despite manpower, money and muscle being used, people have unitedly voted for Congress,” he added.
Congratulating those who have won, the AICC President said people support good work; whether victorious or defeated, one should stay amidst them and work in a democracy.
Complimenting the Congress’ entire state leadership and party office bearers and workers, he said, “Every one has worked unitedly which has got us these results. People have also responded to it. Also, our guarantees have worked, as the poor and downtrodden have voted for us.”
BENGALURU: AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday termed Congress’ good show in the Karnataka Assembly polls as a victory of “Janata Janardhana”, saying people have voted “furiously” against BJP’s “bad administration” in the state.
He said all the newly elected Congress legislators have been asked to reach here by this evening and the due process of the government formation will be followed.
“We have sent a message to everyone (newly elected persons) to come by this evening. They all will come here by this evening and once they come, they will be instructed on the due course. After that, the high command will send observers (and) after that the due processes (for government formation) will follow,” he told reporters here.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });
Congress’ good show was a “Janata Janardhana Victory”, he said, crediting the people for the party’s apparent return to power as it established a clear lead ahead of its rival BJP.
The counting of votes polled in the May 10 Assembly elections in the state was taken up on Saturday.
ALSO READ | CM Bommai concedes defeat, says will come back stronger in LS polls
“People themselves have got up and supported us, they have voted for us furiously against the bad administration. This shows voters of Karnataka are awakened. Despite the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), Home Minister (Amit Shah), dozens of Ministers, Chief Ministers of other states camping here, and despite manpower, money and muscle being used, people have unitedly voted for Congress,” he added.
Congratulating those who have won, the AICC President said people support good work; whether victorious or defeated, one should stay amidst them and work in a democracy.
Complimenting the Congress’ entire state leadership and party office bearers and workers, he said, “Every one has worked unitedly which has got us these results. People have also responded to it. Also, our guarantees have worked, as the poor and downtrodden have voted for us.”
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Congress together with friendly parties will form govt: Kharge
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday claimed that Congress, together with friendly parties, will form the government collectively in 2024.
His remarks at the Indian National Trade Union Congress plenary session here came a day after he said at an election rally in Nagaland that a coalition government led by the Congress will form the next government at the Centre.
In his remarks at the INTUC event, Kharge said everyone will work jointly and the Congress, together with friendly parties, will definitely form the government in 2024.
“This will happen with everyone’s cooperation, collectively,” the Congress chief added.
He also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks that he alone outweighs all, saying such arrogance is not good.
“You are not alone, there is BJP, the RSS…56 inch has become a bit weak now. The person who talks with such arrogance, people will not tolerate such a person,” Kharge said.
“This is democracy. That is why I want to say to him, don’t talk like this,” he said.
Kharge said that on the one hand, the BJP talks of democracy and on the other, it topples democratically elected governments.
Addressing an election rally in Dimapur on Tuesday, Kharge alleged that the BJP used “pressure tactics” to form governments in six to seven states, including Nagaland.
“A Congress-led alliance will come to power at the Centre. We are in talks with other parties. The BJP will not get a majority…all other parties together will. We will follow the Constitution and democracy…Let 100 Modis or Shahs come. This is India and the Constitution is very strong,” he had said.
Tagging his remarks, Kharge tweeted Wednesday, “In 2024, an alliance Govt shall be formed in the Centre. Congress will lead that alliance.”
NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday claimed that Congress, together with friendly parties, will form the government collectively in 2024.
His remarks at the Indian National Trade Union Congress plenary session here came a day after he said at an election rally in Nagaland that a coalition government led by the Congress will form the next government at the Centre.
In his remarks at the INTUC event, Kharge said everyone will work jointly and the Congress, together with friendly parties, will definitely form the government in 2024.
“This will happen with everyone’s cooperation, collectively,” the Congress chief added.
He also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks that he alone outweighs all, saying such arrogance is not good.
“You are not alone, there is BJP, the RSS…56 inch has become a bit weak now. The person who talks with such arrogance, people will not tolerate such a person,” Kharge said.
“This is democracy. That is why I want to say to him, don’t talk like this,” he said.
Kharge said that on the one hand, the BJP talks of democracy and on the other, it topples democratically elected governments.
Addressing an election rally in Dimapur on Tuesday, Kharge alleged that the BJP used “pressure tactics” to form governments in six to seven states, including Nagaland.
“A Congress-led alliance will come to power at the Centre. We are in talks with other parties. The BJP will not get a majority…all other parties together will. We will follow the Constitution and democracy…Let 100 Modis or Shahs come. This is India and the Constitution is very strong,” he had said.
Tagging his remarks, Kharge tweeted Wednesday, “In 2024, an alliance Govt shall be formed in the Centre. Congress will lead that alliance.”
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Congress making Dalits ‘scapegoats’: Mayawati on Kharge as party president
By PTI
LUCKNOW: A day after Mallikarjun Kharge was elected the Congress president, BSP chief Mayawati on Thursday accused the 137-year-old party of remembering Dalits only in its bad times and making them “scapegoats”.
Kharge (80), a Dalit leader from Karnataka, trounced his 66-year-old rival, Shashi Tharoor, in a historic election held four days ago to become the first non-Gandhi to head the Congress in 24 years.
In a series of tweets, Mayawati said, “The history of the Congress is a witness that it has always neglected/disdained the messiah of the downtrodden Param Pujya Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and his society. This party does not remember the safety and honour of Dalits in its good days but makes them a scapegoat on bad days.”
“The Congress party remembers mostly non-Dalits in the long run of good days and puts Dalits in front in their bad days as in the current times. Is this not deceit and pseudo politics? People ask, ‘Is this the real love of the Congress towards Dalits’?” she said in another tweet.
Considered a loyalist of the Gandhis, Kharge will take over as the Congress president on October 26 as he seeks to steer the beleaguered party out of its current crisis.
LUCKNOW: A day after Mallikarjun Kharge was elected the Congress president, BSP chief Mayawati on Thursday accused the 137-year-old party of remembering Dalits only in its bad times and making them “scapegoats”.
Kharge (80), a Dalit leader from Karnataka, trounced his 66-year-old rival, Shashi Tharoor, in a historic election held four days ago to become the first non-Gandhi to head the Congress in 24 years.
In a series of tweets, Mayawati said, “The history of the Congress is a witness that it has always neglected/disdained the messiah of the downtrodden Param Pujya Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and his society. This party does not remember the safety and honour of Dalits in its good days but makes them a scapegoat on bad days.”
“The Congress party remembers mostly non-Dalits in the long run of good days and puts Dalits in front in their bad days as in the current times. Is this not deceit and pseudo politics? People ask, ‘Is this the real love of the Congress towards Dalits’?” she said in another tweet.
Considered a loyalist of the Gandhis, Kharge will take over as the Congress president on October 26 as he seeks to steer the beleaguered party out of its current crisis.
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Sonia Gandhi has last word in Cong’s internal politics, likely to remain so: Ashwani Kumar
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Former Congress leader Ashwani Kumar has said the election of Mallikarjun Kharge as party president by a huge margin shows Sonia Gandhi has the last word in the organisation’s internal politics.
She is likely to command such respect as long as she is active in the party in whatever capacity, Kumar said on Wednesday while asserting that it is because party persons retain a sense of personal loyalty to her, which extends to the family.
“That Kharge was her undeclared choice is indisputable notwithstanding vehement denials by the establishment to the contrary. Sonia Gandhi has once again demonstrated her astute political judgment in using elections to demonstrate the family’s pre-eminence in the party established over long years of exercise of political patronage,” Kumar said in a statement.
The former union minister also lauded Shashi Tharoor for taking on the challenge to contest the top Congress post and said he is no loser.
“The election process is a victory for him. He invested his energy in making a political statement by walking the talk. He has clearly outshone most of his once-upon-a-time colleagues in the G-23 grouping and has positioned himself as a challenger,” Kumar said.
The former law minister also said Tharoor has registered his presence on the national scene for the long run, noting that much will depend on how he conducts himself hereon and how the party treats him.
Kumar said Tharoor need not complain about the absence of a level-playing field, which is never the case in a ‘David versus Goliath’ fight, noting that his tally of over 1,000 votes is a significant pointer.
Asserting that defining ideological battles cannot be captive to personal vanities and animosities, Kumar said, “The Congress needs conscientious dissenters willing and able to hold on to their views.
Mallikarjuna Kharge will need to be a consensus builder within the party and remove causes for the alienation of party persons over the years. In this necessary task, he will need the family’s support.
NEW DELHI: Former Congress leader Ashwani Kumar has said the election of Mallikarjun Kharge as party president by a huge margin shows Sonia Gandhi has the last word in the organisation’s internal politics.
She is likely to command such respect as long as she is active in the party in whatever capacity, Kumar said on Wednesday while asserting that it is because party persons retain a sense of personal loyalty to her, which extends to the family.
“That Kharge was her undeclared choice is indisputable notwithstanding vehement denials by the establishment to the contrary. Sonia Gandhi has once again demonstrated her astute political judgment in using elections to demonstrate the family’s pre-eminence in the party established over long years of exercise of political patronage,” Kumar said in a statement.
The former union minister also lauded Shashi Tharoor for taking on the challenge to contest the top Congress post and said he is no loser.
“The election process is a victory for him. He invested his energy in making a political statement by walking the talk. He has clearly outshone most of his once-upon-a-time colleagues in the G-23 grouping and has positioned himself as a challenger,” Kumar said.
The former law minister also said Tharoor has registered his presence on the national scene for the long run, noting that much will depend on how he conducts himself hereon and how the party treats him.
Kumar said Tharoor need not complain about the absence of a level-playing field, which is never the case in a ‘David versus Goliath’ fight, noting that his tally of over 1,000 votes is a significant pointer.
Asserting that defining ideological battles cannot be captive to personal vanities and animosities, Kumar said, “The Congress needs conscientious dissenters willing and able to hold on to their views.
Mallikarjuna Kharge will need to be a consensus builder within the party and remove causes for the alienation of party persons over the years. In this necessary task, he will need the family’s support.
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No surprise as Kharge wins Congress poll
Express News Service
NEW DELHI: Veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge emerged victorious in the presidential elections held on Monday, becoming the first non-Gandhi family leader to head the grand old party in 24 years. He will officially take over the position of Sonia Gandhi on October 26.
Kharge, a staunch Gandhi family loyalist who was widely perceived to be the ‘official’ candidate, defeated his rival Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor by a margin of over 6,000 votes. While the Karnataka leader secured 7,897 votes, Tharoor managed to get 1,072 out of the over 9,300 votes polled.
While congratulations poured in for Kharge on his new responsibility, the 80-yearold Dalit leader expressed his resolve to ‘fight against conspiracies to kill democracy’. In his first press conference after being elected the AICC chief, Kharge thanked interim chief Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving Congress president, highlighting the personal sacrifices she made for the party.
The election is significant for the Congress in the sense that the contest for the top post took place after a gap of two decades. The last election for the post of president was held in 2000, in which Sonia won with a thumping majority trouncing rival candidate Jitendra Prasada.
The elevation of Kharge, a Dalit leader from Karnataka, is expected to boost the party’s prospects in the Assembly elections next year as well as in the 2024 general elections. Although Kharge’s victory was a foregone conclusion, analysts say Tharoor bagging 12% of the votes polled was equally impressive. Tharoor, who had raised allegations of preferential treatment to Kharge by senior party leaders and an ‘uneven pitch’ during his campaigns, reiterated his claims even after the results were out.
In a letter to the party’s chief electoral officer Madhusudan Mistry, Tharoor’s campaign team member Salman Soz said, “The facts are damning and the election process in Uttar Pradesh is devoid of credibility and integrity.”
The letter alleged the use of unofficial seals for ballot boxes and the presence of unofficial persons in polling booths. Talking to reporters later, Tharoor said he didn’t pitch himself as a candidate of dissent. “I was a candidate for change,” he said. On the lack of a level-playing field, he said “I continued to bat on an uneven pitch… There were bound to be glitches in the process.”
Rahul will be PM face: Gaurav GogoiAmid questions over the role of Rahul Gandhi in the party after Kharge became the Congress chief, senior party leader Gaurav Gogoi said Rahul will be the prime ministerial face of the party in the 2024 general elections. “It is evident that Rahul Gandhi is the PM face for 2024. There are many Congress workers who feel that Rahul is the best person to be PM,” he said
NEW DELHI: Veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge emerged victorious in the presidential elections held on Monday, becoming the first non-Gandhi family leader to head the grand old party in 24 years. He will officially take over the position of Sonia Gandhi on October 26.
Kharge, a staunch Gandhi family loyalist who was widely perceived to be the ‘official’ candidate, defeated his rival Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor by a margin of over 6,000 votes. While the Karnataka leader secured 7,897 votes, Tharoor managed to get 1,072 out of the over 9,300 votes polled.
While congratulations poured in for Kharge on his new responsibility, the 80-yearold Dalit leader expressed his resolve to ‘fight against conspiracies to kill democracy’. In his first press conference after being elected the AICC chief, Kharge thanked interim chief Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving Congress president, highlighting the personal sacrifices she made for the party.
The election is significant for the Congress in the sense that the contest for the top post took place after a gap of two decades. The last election for the post of president was held in 2000, in which Sonia won with a thumping majority trouncing rival candidate Jitendra Prasada.
The elevation of Kharge, a Dalit leader from Karnataka, is expected to boost the party’s prospects in the Assembly elections next year as well as in the 2024 general elections. Although Kharge’s victory was a foregone conclusion, analysts say Tharoor bagging 12% of the votes polled was equally impressive. Tharoor, who had raised allegations of preferential treatment to Kharge by senior party leaders and an ‘uneven pitch’ during his campaigns, reiterated his claims even after the results were out.
In a letter to the party’s chief electoral officer Madhusudan Mistry, Tharoor’s campaign team member Salman Soz said, “The facts are damning and the election process in Uttar Pradesh is devoid of credibility and integrity.”
The letter alleged the use of unofficial seals for ballot boxes and the presence of unofficial persons in polling booths. Talking to reporters later, Tharoor said he didn’t pitch himself as a candidate of dissent. “I was a candidate for change,” he said. On the lack of a level-playing field, he said “I continued to bat on an uneven pitch… There were bound to be glitches in the process.”
Rahul will be PM face: Gaurav Gogoi
Amid questions over the role of Rahul Gandhi in the party after Kharge became the Congress chief, senior party leader Gaurav Gogoi said Rahul will be the prime ministerial face of the party in the 2024 general elections. “It is evident that Rahul Gandhi is the PM face for 2024. There are many Congress workers who feel that Rahul is the best person to be PM,” he said -
New Cong president will take forward leadership’s vision: Salman Khurshid
By ANI
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Monday said that the new party president would take forward and implement the vision of the party leadership.
“Party leadership will remain. The new party president will decide how to take forward and implement the leadership’s vision,” Congress leader Salman Khurshid said after casting his vote at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office in the national capital.
He also lauded Shashi Tharoor’s attempt to contest the internal elections.
Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has directly contested against veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge and earlier in the day said that the revival of the party has begun whatever the outcome and that the fate of the Congress lies in the hands of the party workers.
He further said that he was confident of winning the election but acknowledged the odds against him.
Tharoor also said he had spoken to Kharge earlier in the day.
Kharge also told ANI today: “It is part of our internal election. Whatever we said to each other is on a friendly note. Together we have to build the party. (Shashi) Tharoor telephoned me and wished me luck and I also said the same.”
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh, after voting for his desired new chief, said that Congress was the only political party to hold elections for its president.
Speaking to the ANI further, Salman Khurshid said that one should not compare the value of human life and political scores.
Reacting to National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah’s allegation that the incidents of targeted killings by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir are not going to stop “until justice is served”, Khurshid said that it is crucial to hold a healthy conversation with the ones who have been there experiencing the ground reality.
“This will never stop until justice is served. Earlier they said such killings happening due to Article 370, but it’s abrogated now, so why such killings haven’t stopped? Who’s responsible?” National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah said earlier in the day, reacting to the recent killing of a Kashmiri Pandit in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Monday said that the new party president would take forward and implement the vision of the party leadership.
“Party leadership will remain. The new party president will decide how to take forward and implement the leadership’s vision,” Congress leader Salman Khurshid said after casting his vote at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office in the national capital.
He also lauded Shashi Tharoor’s attempt to contest the internal elections.
Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has directly contested against veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge and earlier in the day said that the revival of the party has begun whatever the outcome and that the fate of the Congress lies in the hands of the party workers.
He further said that he was confident of winning the election but acknowledged the odds against him.
Tharoor also said he had spoken to Kharge earlier in the day.
Kharge also told ANI today: “It is part of our internal election. Whatever we said to each other is on a friendly note. Together we have to build the party. (Shashi) Tharoor telephoned me and wished me luck and I also said the same.”
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh, after voting for his desired new chief, said that Congress was the only political party to hold elections for its president.
Speaking to the ANI further, Salman Khurshid said that one should not compare the value of human life and political scores.
Reacting to National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah’s allegation that the incidents of targeted killings by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir are not going to stop “until justice is served”, Khurshid said that it is crucial to hold a healthy conversation with the ones who have been there experiencing the ground reality.
“This will never stop until justice is served. Earlier they said such killings happening due to Article 370, but it’s abrogated now, so why such killings haven’t stopped? Who’s responsible?” National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah said earlier in the day, reacting to the recent killing of a Kashmiri Pandit in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.