Mallikarjun Kharge
Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge (born 21 July 1942) is an Indian lawyer and politician 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.
Mallikarjun Kharge | |
|---|---|
Kharge in 2011 | |
| President of the Indian National Congress | |
| Assumed office 26 October 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Sonia Gandhi (interim) |
| Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha | |
| Assumed office 16 February 2021 | |
| Vice President | |
| Deputy |
|
| Preceded by | Ghulam Nabi Azad |
| Leader of Indian National Congress, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 4 June 2014 – 23 May 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Sushilkumar Shinde |
| Succeeded by | Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury |
| Chairperson of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance | |
| Assumed office 13 January 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Position Established |
| Minister of Railways | |
| In office 17 June 2013 – 26 May 2014 | |
| Prime Minister | Manmohan Singh |
| Preceded by | C. P. Joshi |
| Succeeded by | D. V. Sadananda Gowda |
| Minister of Labour and Employment | |
| In office 29 May 2009 – 16 June 2013 | |
| Prime Minister | Manmohan Singh |
| Preceded by | Oscar Fernandes |
| Succeeded by | Sis Ram Ola |
| Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 19 December 1996 – 7 July 1999 | |
| Preceded by | B. S. Yediyurappa |
| Succeeded by | Jagadish Shettar |
| Preceded by | N. Dharam Singh |
| Succeeded by | Siddaramaiah |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| Assumed office 12 June 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Rajeev Gowda |
| Constituency | Karnataka |
| General Secretary of AICC and Incharge for Maharashtra | |
| In office 22 June 2018 – 11 September 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Position Created |
| Succeeded by | H. K. Patil |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 31 May 2009 – 23 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Iqbal Ahmed Saradgi |
| Succeeded by | Umesh. G. Jadhav |
| Constituency | Gulbarga |
| President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee | |
| In office 2005–2008 | |
| Preceded by | Janardhana Poojary |
| Succeeded by | R. V. Deshpande |
| Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Karnataka | |
| In office 1972–2008 | |
| Preceded by | N. Yenkappa |
| Succeeded by | Baburao Chinchansur |
| Constituency | Gurmitkal |
| In office 2008–2009 | |
| Preceded by | Vishwanath Patil Hebbal |
| Succeeded by | Valmiki Naik |
| Constituency | Chittapur |
| Minister of Home Affairs, Government of Karnataka | |
| In office 1999–2004 | |
| Chief Minister | S. M. Krishna |
| Minister of Rural Development, Government of Karnataka | |
| In office 1978–1980 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 July 1942 Warwatti, Hyderabad State, British India (now Karnataka, India) |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse |
Radhabai Kharge (m. 1968) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parents |
|
| Education | B A, L L B |
| Alma mater | Government College, Gulbarga University, Gulbarga |
| Source: sansad.in | |
He was the chairperson of Public Accounts Committee in 16th Lok Sabha from 2016 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. Kharge was a Member of Parliament for Gulbarga, Karnataka from 2009 to 2019. He was also general secretary of All India Congress Committee and incharge for Maharashtra from 2018 to 2020. He is a Buddhist, but was born in a Dalit Hindu family.
He is a senior Karnataka politician and was the Leader of opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from 1996 to 1999. He was the President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee from 2005 to 2008. He was a member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Gurmitkal Assembly constituency from 1972 to 2008 and from Chittapur Assembly constituency from 2008 to 2009 and Ministry of home affairs, Government of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004 and Rural development from 1978 to 1980. He defeated Shashi Tharoor in the 2022 Indian National Congress presidential election.
He is known for his record of defeating all his opposition candidates in his lifetime career except one.