Mallikarjun Kharge

Mallikarjun Kharge, born on July twenty-first, nineteen forty-two, is a prominent Indian politician and lawyer who has been serving as the President of the Indian National Congress since 2022. He also holds the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha since 2021, representing Karnataka as a Member of Parliament since 2020.

Kharge's political journey began in state politics, where he was a member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for the Gurmitkal constituency from nineteen seventy-two to two thousand eight, and for the Chittapur constituency from two thousand eight to two thousand nine. His leadership skills were evident as he served as the leader of the opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from nineteen ninety-six to nineteen ninety-nine and as the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee from two thousand five to two thousand eight.

Transitioning to national politics, Kharge was elected as the Member of Parliament for Gulbarga, Karnataka, serving from two thousand nine to two thousand nineteen. During the UPA 2 government, he held significant ministerial roles, including Minister of Railways from two thousand thirteen to two thousand fourteen and Minister of Labour and Employment from two thousand nine to two thousand thirteen. He also served as a general secretary of the All India Congress Committee for Maharashtra from two thousand eighteen to two thousand twenty.

In the sixteenth Lok Sabha, Kharge was the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee from two thousand sixteen to two thousand nineteen. After a brief hiatus following his defeat in the two thousand nineteen Indian general election, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha in two thousand twenty. In a significant political victory, he succeeded Sonia Gandhi as the president of the Indian National Congress in two thousand twenty-two, defeating Shashi Tharoor. Under his leadership, the Congress party made a remarkable comeback, gaining forty-seven seats in the two thousand twenty-four Indian general election, marking its return as the official opposition for the first time since its defeat in two thousand fourteen.

Kharge is known for his close alliance with the Nehru-Gandhi family, which has been a significant aspect of his political career.