GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 20th Oct. The Congress elected Mallikarjun Kharge as its president on Wednesday, making him the first non-Gandhi leader of the party in 24 years. The 137-year-old party is currently trying to reverse its downward trend in the nation’s electoral politics.
An ardent supporter of the Gandhi family from Karnataka, the 80-year-old leader outpolled Shashi Tharoor by garnering nearly 84% of the vote in the race for party president.
Kharge received 7,897 votes, Tharoor received 1,072 votes, and 416 votes were declared invalid, according to Congress’ central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry, who spoke at a press conference at the AICC headquarters here.
Kharge stated at a press conference following his victory, “no one is big or small, all have to work together as ‘karyakartas’ to strengthen Congress…We have to fight together against fascist forces who are attacking democracy and the Constitution.”
Kharge has stated that he will formally take over on October 26.
Despite being a late entrant in the Congress’ internal elections to select Sonia Gandhi’s successor, Kharge’s victory was almost certain because he was a ‘family-approved’ candidate. Sitaram Kesri, the last non-Gandhi Congress president, was deposed in 1998, just two years into his five-year term.
While former Congress President Rahul Gandhi stated that the president is the “supreme authority” and will decide the party’s future direction, it will be difficult for Kharge to send a clear message that he is the one in charge and not a proxy for the Gandhis.
Kharge’s election also comes at a time when the party is reeling from internal squabbles and high-profile exits following a string of electoral disasters, reducing it to a shadow of its former formidable self.
Kharge’s first challenge as party president will be the upcoming assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.
Conceding defeat, Tharoor congratulated Kharge and stated that the “democratic contest” has galvanised vibrancy at all levels and prompted a healthy and constructive discussion on change, which will benefit the party in the future.
Tharoor also claimed that the Congress is on the mend.
Tharoor said in a statement that the Nehru-Gandhi family has and will always have a special place in the hearts of Congress members.
Sonia Gandhi, the outgoing Congress president, also paid Kharge a visit and congratulated him. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary, accompanied her.
Rahul Gandhi said in his congratulatory message that Kharge represents India’s “democratic vision.”
“The Congress President represents India’s democratic vision. His vast experience and ideological commitment will benefit the party as he assumes this historic role “Gandhi stated this on Twitter.
At the Congress headquarters, a festive atmosphere prevailed, with party workers carrying flags and posters, prominently featuring images of Rahul Gandhi, moving around joyously beating drums.
A sizable crowd of party supporters gathered in anticipation of the announcement of the organization’s next chief.
Some old-timers recalled that the crowd, including a large media presence, and overall festive atmosphere were reminiscent of the scenes during poll wins, which have been rare in recent years for the party.
Kharge, a politician with more than 50 years of experience, is the second AICC President from Karnataka after S Nijalingappa and the second Dalit leader to hold the position after Jagjivan Ram.
Kharge was elected MLA nine times in a row, his career graph steadily rising from humble beginnings as a union leader in his home district of Gulbarga (renamed as Kalaburagi).
In 1969, he joined the party and rose to become President of the Gulbarga City Congress Committee.
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