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Mallikarjun Kharge

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Mallikarjun Kharge
Kharge in 2014
President of the Indian National Congress
Incumbent
Assumed office
26 October 2022
Preceded bySonia Gandhi (interim)
President of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance
Incumbent
Assumed office
13 January 2024
Preceded byOffice established
14th Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha
Incumbent
Assumed office
26 June 2026
DeputyAnand Sharma
Pramod Tiwari
Chairman
Venkaiah Naidu
Jagdeep Dhankhar
C. P. Radhakrishnan
Preceded byGhulam Nabi Azad
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 June 2020
Preceded byRajeev Gowda
ConstituencyKarnataka
Personal details
BornMapanna Mallikarjun Kharge
(1942-07-21) 21 July 1942 (age 83)
Warwatti, Hyderabad State, British India
PartyIndian National Congress
Spouse
Radhabai Kharge
​
(m. 1968)​
Children5 (including Priyank Kharge)
Occupation

Mallikarjun Mapanna Kharge (Kannada: [malːikaːrd͡ʒun kʰɐrɡe]; born 21 July 1942) is an Indian politician and lawyer from the Indian state of Karnataka serving as the President of the Indian National Congress since 2022 and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha since 2021. He has been a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from Karnataka since 2020. He has been re-elected for Rajya Sabha in June 2026. [1] [2]


He began his career in state politics, serving as a member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Gurmitkal Assembly constituency from 1972 to 2008 and from Chittapur Assembly constituency from 2008 to 2009. Kharge served as the leader of the opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from 1996 to 1999, president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee from 2005 to 2008, and as a minister in many portfolios under various chief ministers.

Kharge joined national politics when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Gulbarga, Karnataka, serving from 2009 to 2019. During the UPA 2 government, he served as the Minister of Railways from 2013 to 2014 and Minister of Labour and Employment from 2009 to 2013 in the Union Cabinet. He was also a general secretary of the All India Congress Committee, in charge for Maharashtra, from 2018 to 2020. He was also the chairperson of Public Accounts Committee in the 16th Lok Sabha from 2016 to 2019. After being elected a member of the Rajya Sabha for Karnataka in 2020 following his defeat in the 2019 Indian general election, he defeated Shashi Tharoor in the 2022 Indian National Congress presidential election to succeed Sonia Gandhi.[3] Under his presidency, the Congress gained 47 seats in the 2024 Indian general election with an overall of 99 seats, forming the official opposition for the first time since its defeat in 2014.[4][5] He is a close ally of the Nehru-Gandhi family.[6]

Early life and background

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Mallikarjun Kharge was born on 21 July 1942 in the Varawatti, Bhalki Taluk, Bidar district, Karnataka in a Dalit family to Saibavva and Mapanna Kharge.[7]

In 1948, Kharge lost his mother and sister in a fire set off by the Razakars of the Nizam of Hyderabad, while he himself had a narrow escape at the age of 7.[8][9] He finished his schooling from Nutan Vidyalaya in Gulbarga and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Government College, Gulbarga and his law degree from the Seth Shankarlal Lahoti Law College in Gulbarga.[10] He started his legal practice as a junior in Justice Shivaraj Patil's office and fought cases for labour unions early in his legal career.[11]

Political career

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Kharge began his political career in state politics, being elected as the MLA for Gurmitkal Assembly constituency and Chittapur Assembly constituency consecutively from 1972 to 2008. During his tenure in state politics, he served as a minister in the ministries of S. M. Krishna, Veerappa Moily, Sarekoppa Bangarappa, and R. Gundu Rao, in many prominent portfolios including the Home and Revenue ministries. In opposition, Kharge served as the leader of the opposition on two occasions and led the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee into the 2008 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election as KPCC president, gaining 15 seats for the party and finishing second. He resigned from the legislature in 2009 to run for the Lok Sabha.

Kharge with 13th Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh at the 44th session of Indian Labour Conference in New Delhi (2012)

Kharge was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 2009 the general election from Gulbarga. This was his tenth consecutive election victory.[12]

Kharge alongside other state leaders persistently advocated for special status to address regional imbalances in the erstwhile Hyderabad-Karnataka region (now known as Kalyana Karnataka).[13] He campaigned for a constitutional amendment to drive regional development and equitable opportunities however, the UPA 2 did not possess a two-third majority in Parliament therefore he along with then-Congress leader Sonia Gandhi personally lobbied leaders of various political parties to ensure the Ninety-eighth Amendment of the Constitution of India was passed unanimously in both the houses in 2012.[14] The implementation of Article 371J resulted in creating the Kalyana Karnataka Development Board and securing up to 80% reservation in local education and government jobs for residents of the region's seven districts.[15]

In the 2014 general elections, Kharge was elected from Gulbarga, beating Revunaik Belamagih from the BJP with a margin of 13,404 votes.[16][17] In June, he was appointed the Leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha.[18]

In the 2019 general elections, Kharge contested from the same parliamentary seat, however this time he lost to Umesh G. Jadhav from the BJP with a margin of 95,452 votes.[17]

On 12 June 2020 Kharge was elected (unopposed) to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, at the age of 78 years.[19] On 12 February 2021, Kharge was appointed Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha.[20]

Kharge notably has been appointed an observer by the INC for multiple states in the past, including Assam in 2014, Punjab in 2021, and Rajasthan in 2022.[21] He has been criticized for his alleged inability to resolve internal party issues in these three states and therefore causing the loss in Assam and Punjab, and public embarrassment in Rajasthan.[21]

He is known for his record of defeating all his opposition candidates in his lifetime career except one.[22] In 2023, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Lokmat's Parliamentary Awards.[23]

President of the Indian National Congress

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On 1 October 2022, he filed nominations to contest the INC party presidential polls and won with 7897 votes.[24] He was the first INC President not from the Gandhi family in 24 years.[25] He was 61st person to hold the post and 98th president of the party.[26] He was resigned as Leader of the Opposition on 1 October 2022 before nomination, but reinsisted in December 2022.[27] In the first 2 years of his presidency, the Congress formed governments in Himachal Pradesh in 2022, Telangana in 2023, and forming a coalition in Jharkhand in 2024, while losing power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan in 2023.[28][29][30][31] The Congress opted out of Omar Abdullah's government in Jammu Kashmir after it sought two ministries but was offered only one even though both parties contested election in alliance. It had won just six of the 39 seats it contested in the state.[32]

2024 general election

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Kharge's name was proposed as the prime ministerial candidate of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance for the 2024 general election. The proposal was made by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and was supported by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.[33] However, other senior leaders of the alliance such as Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Yadav disapproved the proposal.[34] However, he was made chairman of alliance.[35]

Kharge has been nominated along with six others in the list for Rajya Sabha bye-elections in June 2026.[36][37]

Electoral performances

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Year Election Party Constituency Result Votes gained Vote share% Margin Ref
1972 Mysore Legislative Assembly INC  Gurmitkal Won 16,796 62.68%% 9,440 [38]
1978 Karnataka Legislative Assembly Won 30,380 64.99% 16,599 [39]
1983 Karnataka Legislative Assembly Won 30,933 67.65% 16,143 [40]
1985 Karnataka Legislative Assembly Won 32,669 66% 17,673 [41]
1989 Karnataka Legislative Assembly Won 39,608 64.23% 19,969 [42]
1994 Karnataka Legislative Assembly Won 42,588 58.76% 19,336 [43]
1999 Karnataka Legislative Assembly Won 54,569 76.76% 47,124 [44]
2004 Karnataka Legislative Assembly Won 37,006 45.99% 18,547 [45]
2008 Karnataka Legislative Assembly Won 49,837 52.13% 17,442 [46]
2009 15th Lok Sabha Gulbarga Won 3,45,241 45.46% 13,404 [47]
2014 16th Lok Sabha Won 5,07,193 50.83% 74,733 [48]
2019 17th Lok Sabha Lost 5,24,740 44.08% 95,452 [49]

Positions held

[edit]
Year Description
1972–1978 Elected to 5th Mysore Assembly (1st Term)
  • Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education (1976-1978)
1978–1983 Elected to 6th Karnataka Assembly (2nd Term)
  • Cabinet Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (1979-1980)
  • Cabinet Minister for Revenue (1980-83)
1983–1985 Elected to 7th Karnataka Assembly (3rd Term)
  • Secretary, Congress Legislature Party
1985–1989 Elected to 8th Karnataka Assembly (4th Term)
  • Deputy Leader of Opposition
1989–1994 Elected to 9th Karnataka Assembly (5th Term)
  • Cabinet Minister for Revenue, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (1990-1992)
  • Cabinet Minister for Co-operation, Medium and Large Industries (1992-1994)
1994–1999 Elected to 10th Karnataka Assembly (6th Term)
  • Leader of Opposition (1996-99)
1999–2004 Elected to 11th Karnataka Assembly (7th Term)
  • Cabinet Minister for Home, Infrastructure Development and Minor Irrigation (1999-2004)
2004–2008 Elected to 12th Karnataka Assembly (8th Term)
  • Cabinet Minister for Water Resources and Transport (2004-2006)
2008–2009 Elected to 13th Karnataka Assembly (9th Term)
  • Leader of Opposition (2008-2009)
2009–2014 Elected to 15th Lok Sabha (1st Term)
2014–2019 Elected to 16th Lok Sabha (2nd Term)
  • Leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party
  • Member, Business Advisory Committee (2014–2019)
  • Member, Standing Committee on Home Affairs (2014–2019)
  • Member, Joint Parliamentary Committee on Maintenance of Heritage Character and Development of Parliament House Complex (2014–2019)
  • Member of National Committee (NC) for commemorating the 125th Birth Anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (2014–2019)
  • Member, General Purposes Committee (2015–2019)
  • Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Defence (2015–2019)
  • Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee (2017–2019)
  • Member, Committee on Budget of Lok Sabha (2017–2019)
2020–Present Elected to Rajya Sabha (1st Term)

Personal life

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Kharge married Radhabai on 13 May 1968; they have 2 daughters and 3 sons.[10][50] Kharge is a polyglot and can speak English, Hindi, Urdu, Kannada, Telugu and Marathi.[51] His son Priyank Kharge is an MLA from the Chittapur assembly constituency,[8] and his son-in-law Radhakrishna is an MP from Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency, Kharge's former seat in the Lok Sabha.

He is a Buddhist and the Founder-Chairman of Siddharth Vihar Trust that has built the Buddha Vihar in Gulbarga, India.[52][53][54] He is also a patron of the Chowdiah Memorial Hall, a concert and theater venue in Bangalore. He helped the centre get over its debts and aided the centre's plans for renovation.[55]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Rajya Sabha Elections 2026 Winners: Mallikarjun Kharge, Tarun Chugh Among 22 MPs Elected Unopposed". News 18. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  2. ^ "राज्यसभा चुनाव- 26 में से 23 उम्मीदवार निर्विरोध जीते:इनमें मल्लिकार्जुन खड़गे और पवन खेड़ा शामिल; 3 सीटों पर 18 जून को वोटिंग". Bhaskar. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  3. ^ "Kharge, who started as labour leader, becomes new Congress chief by beating Tharoor who speaks fine English". India Today. 19 October 2022. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  4. ^ Aggarwai, Mithil; Frayer, Janis Mackey (4 June 2024). "India hands PM Modi a surprise setback, with his majority in doubt in the world's largest election". NBC News. Archived from the original on 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  5. ^ Poharel, Krishna; Lahiri, Tripti (3 June 2024). "India's Narendra Modi Struggles to Hold On to Majority, Early Election Results Show". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  6. ^ Qureshi, Imran (19 October 2022). "Mallikarjun Kharge: Can a non-Gandhi Congress chief take on Modi?". Retrieved 1 February 2025.
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  8. ^ a b "Escaping Blaze at 7 to Congress Chief at 80 Mallikarjun Kharges Firefighting Continues Son Recounts Journey for News18". 19 October 2022. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Mallikarjun Kharge officially takes charge as 1st non-Gandhi Congress president after 24 years". 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
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  13. ^ "Article 371(J) is Kharge's gift to Kalyana Karnataka, says Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar". The Hindu. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
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  20. ^ "Kharge to be Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha". The Hindu. 12 February 2021. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  21. ^ a b "How two states slipped out of the Congress under Mallikarjun Kharge's 'observation', while a third one is on the line". India Today. 4 October 2022. Archived from the original on 27 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
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  26. ^ Indian National Congress
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  28. ^ "Congress Wins Himachal, Race Begins For Chief Minister's Chair: 10 Points". Ndtv.com. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  29. ^ "Hemant Soren poised to form government in Jharkhand for second time". ddnews.gov.in. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  30. ^ Reddy, R. Ravikanth (3 December 2023). "Telangana Assembly election results 2023 | Congress breaks Bharat Rashtra Samithi's decade-long hold over Telangana with big wins". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  31. ^ "Decisive wins: The Hindu Editorial on M.P., Rajasthan, Telangana and Chhattisgarh Assembly election results". The Hindu. 3 December 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  32. ^ "Congress opts out of Omar Abdullah's government in J&K". Hindustan Times. 16 October 2024.
  33. ^ Menon, Aditya (19 December 2023). "INDIA Bloc Meeting: Why Mallikarjun Kharge is Right Choice as PM Face But..." TheQuint. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  34. ^ "INDIA bloc meets and sulking members in aftermath: A consistent saga in 4 parts". India Today. 19 December 2023. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  35. ^ "Kharge named INDIA bloc chairperson, Nitish Kumar turns down convener post". Hindustan Times. 13 January 2024. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  36. ^ "Parliamentary debut for Pawan Khera: Congress releases list of candidates of Rajya Sabha polls". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  37. ^ "Congress releases list for Rajya Sabha polls, Kharge, Pawan Khera nominated from Karnataka". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  38. ^ "Mysore Legislative Assembly Election, 1972". eci.gov.in. Election Commission of India. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  39. ^ "Karnataka Legislative Assembly Election, 1978". eci.gov.in. Election Commission of India. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  40. ^ "Karnataka Legislative Assembly Election, 1983". eci.gov.in. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  41. ^ "Karnataka Legislative Assembly Election, 1985". eci.gov.in. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  42. ^ "Karnataka Legislative Assembly Election, 1989". eci.gov.in. Election Commission of India. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  43. ^ "Karnataka Legislative Assembly Election, 1994". eci.gov.in. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  44. ^ "Karnataka Legislative Assembly Election, 1999". eci.gov.in. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  45. ^ "Karnataka Legislative Assembly Election, 2004". eci.gov.in. Election Commission of India. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  46. ^ "Karnataka Legislative Assembly Election - 2008". eci.gov.in. Election Commission of India. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  47. ^ "General Election 2009". Election Commission of India. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  48. ^ "General Election 2014". Election Commission of India. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  49. ^ "General Election 2019". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  50. ^ "Personal life of Mallikarjun Kharge". Business Standard. 3 June 2014. Archived from the original on 3 June 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  51. ^ "Mallikarjun Kharge takes the Congress reins". India Today. 21 October 2022. Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  52. ^ Files, The Hindu (23 May 2024). "Kharge calls upon scholars to unearth hidden history of Buddhism to enlighten next generation". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  53. ^ ""Baseless and wrong", Buddhist monks on Kharge's remark questioning Modi's faith". ddnews.gov.in. Archived from the original on 17 May 2025. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  54. ^ "About Buddha Vihar, Gulbarga". Buddha vihar Gulbarga. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  55. ^ "A grand bow to the arts". The Hindu. 1 July 2005. Archived from the original on 27 January 2011.
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