Mallikarjun Kharge | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kharge as the Union Minister for Railways in February 2014 | |
| 1st Chairman of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance | |
| Assumed office 13 January 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| President of the Indian National Congress | |
| Assumed office 26 October 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Sonia Gandhi (interim) |
| 14th Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha | |
| Assumed office 16 February 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Vice President | |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | Ghulam Nabi Azad |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| Assumed office 12 June 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Rajeev Gowda |
| Constituency | Karnataka |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge 21 July 1942 Warwatti, Bidar District, Hyderabad State, British India |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse |
Radhabai Kharge (m. 1968) |
| Children | 5, including Priyank Kharge |
| Residence | 10, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi |
| Alma mater |
|
| Occupation | |
| Website | india.gov.in/mallikarjun-kharge |
Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge (Kannada: [malːikaːrd͡ʒun kʰɐrɡe]; born 21 July 1942) is an Indian lawyer and politician serving as the President of the Indian National Congress since 2022,[1] and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha since 2021. He has been a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from Karnataka since 2020.
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, incharge for Maharashtra, from 2018 to 2020. He was also the chairperson of Public Accounts Committee in 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. Under his presidency, the Congress gained 99 seats in the 2024 Indian general election, forming the official opposition for the first time since 2014.[2][3] He is a close ally of the Gandhi family.[4]
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-63252922