Mallikarjun Kharge: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = MallikarjunKharge.jpg
| image = MallikarjunKharge.jpg
| office        = [[Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha]]   
| office =  [[List of presidents of the Indian National Congress|President of Indian National Congress]] | predecessor = [[Sonia Gandhi]] | term_start = 17 October 2022 | office1         = [[Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha]]   
| 1blankname     = Chairman
| 1blankname1     = Chairman
| 1namedata     = [[Venkaiah Naidu]]
| 1namedata1     = *[[Venkaiah Naidu]] 
| 2blankname     = Prime Minister  
* [[Jagdeep Dhankhar]]
| 2namedata     = [[Narendra Modi]]     
| 2blankname1     = Prime Minister  
| predecessor   = [[Ghulam Nabi Azad]]
| 2namedata1     = [[Narendra Modi]]     
| successor     =     
| predecessor1   = [[Ghulam Nabi Azad]]
|term_start     = {{Start date|2021|02|16|df=yes}}
| successor1     =     
|term_end       =  
|term_start1     = {{Start date|2021|02|16|df=yes}}
| office2       = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]
|term_end1       = 1 October 2022
| constituency2 = [[Karnataka]]
|office2         = [[Indian National Congress|Leader of Indian National Congress]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| predecessor2   = [[Rajeev Gowda]]
|term_start2    = 4 June 2014
| successor2     =
|term_end2      = 16 June 2019
| term_start2    = 12 June 2020
|predecessor2   = [[Sushilkumar Shinde]]
| term_end2     =
|successor2      = [[Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury]]
|office3         = [[Indian National Congress|Leader of Indian National Congress]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| office3       = [[Public Accounts Committee (India)|Chairperson of Public Accounts Committee]]  
|term_start3    = 4 June 2014
|term_start3    = 2016
|term_end3      = 16 June 2019
|term_end3      = 2019
|predecessor3    = [[Sushilkumar Shinde]]
|appointed3      = [[Sumitra Mahajan]]
{{small|([[Speaker of the Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha Speaker]])}}
|predecessor3    = [[K V Thomas]]
|successor3      = [[Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury]]
|successor3      = [[Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury]]
| office4       = [[Public Accounts Committee (India)|Chairperson of Public Accounts Committee]]  
|office4         = [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Minister of Railways]]
|term_start4    = 2016
|primeminister4  = [[Manmohan Singh]]
|term_end4      = 2019
|term_start4    = 17 June 2013
|appointed4      = [[Sumitra Mahajan]]
|term_end4      = 26 May 2014
{{small|([[Speaker of the Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha Speaker]])}}
|predecessor4    = [[C. P. Joshi]]
|predecessor4    = [[K V Thomas]]
|successor4      = [[D. V. Sadananda Gowda]]
|successor4      = [[Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury]]
|office5        = [[Minister of Labour and Employment (India)|Minister of Labour and Employment]]
|office5        = General Secretary of <br />[[All India Congress Committee|AICC]] and Incharge for [[Maharashtra]]
|primeminister5  = [[Manmohan Singh]]
|term_start5    = 22 June 2018
|term_start5    = 29 May 2009
|term_end5      = 11 September 2020
|term_end5      = 16 June 2013
|predecessor5    = Position Created
|predecessor5    = [[Oscar Fernandes]]
|successor5      = [[H. K. Patil]]
|successor5      = [[Sis Ram Ola]]
|office6         = [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Minister of Railways]]
| office6       = [[Leader of the Opposition|Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly]]
|primeminister6 = [[Manmohan Singh]]
| term_start6  = 19 December 1996
|term_start6    = 17 June 2013
| term_end6    = 7 July 1999
|term_end6      = 26 May 2014
| predecessor6 = [[B. S. Yediyurappa]]
|predecessor6    = [[C. P. Joshi]]
| successor6    = [[Jagadish Shettar]]
|successor6      = [[D. V. Sadananda Gowda]]
| term_start7  = 5 June 2008
|office7        = [[Minister of Labour and Employment (India)|Minister of Labour and Employment]]
| term_end7    = 28 May 2009
|primeminister7  = [[Manmohan Singh]]
| predecessor7  = [[N. Dharam Singh]]
|term_start7     = 29 May 2009
| successor7    = [[Siddaramaiah]]
|term_end7      = 16 June 2013
| office8        = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]
|predecessor7    = [[Oscar Fernandes]]
| constituency8  = [[Karnataka]]
|successor7     = [[Sis Ram Ola]]
| predecessor8  = [[Rajeev Gowda]]
|office8         = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| successor8     =
|constituency8   = [[Gulbarga (Lok Sabha constituency)|Gulbarga]]
| term_start8    = 12 June 2020
|term_start8     = 31 May 2009
| term_end8      =
|term_end8       = 23 May 2019
|office9        = General Secretary of <br />[[All India Congress Committee|AICC]] and Incharge for [[Maharashtra]]
|predecessor8   = [[Iqbal Ahmed Saradgi]]
|term_start9    = 22 June 2018
|successor8     = [[Umesh. G. Jadhav]]  
|term_end9      = 11 September 2020
|office9         = President of [[Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee]]
|predecessor9    = Position Created
|term_start9     = 2005
|successor9     = [[H. K. Patil]]
|term_end9       = 2008
|office10         = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
|predecessor9   = [[Janardhana Poojary]]
|constituency10   = [[Gulbarga (Lok Sabha constituency)|Gulbarga]]
|successor9     = [[R. V. Deshpande]]
|term_start10     = 31 May 2009
|office10       = Member of the [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]], [[Karnataka]]
|term_end10       = 23 May 2019
|predecessor10   = [[N. Yenkappa]]  
|predecessor10   = [[Iqbal Ahmed Saradgi]]
|successor10     = [[Baburao Chinchansur]]
|successor10     = [[Umesh. G. Jadhav]]  
|term_start10   = 1972
|office11         = President of [[Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee]]
|term_end10     = 2008
|term_start11     = 2005
|constituency10 = [[Gurmitkal (Vidhana Sabha constituency)|Gurmitkal]]
|term_end11       = 2008
|term_start11   = 2008
|predecessor11   = [[Janardhana Poojary]]
|term_end11     = 2009
|successor11     = [[R. V. Deshpande]]
|constituency11 = [[Chittapur (Vidhana Sabha constituency)|Chittapur]]
|office12       = Member of the [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]], [[Karnataka]]
|predecessor11   = [[Vishwanath Patil Hebbal]]  
|predecessor12   = [[N. Yenkappa]]  
|successor11     = [[Valmiki Naik]]
|successor12     = [[Baburao Chinchansur]]
| office12      = [[Leader of the Opposition|Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly]]
|term_start12   = 1972
| term_start12  = 19 December 1996
|term_end12     = 2008
| term_end12    = 7 July 1999
|constituency12 = [[Gurmitkal (Vidhana Sabha constituency)|Gurmitkal]]
| predecessor12  = [[B. S. Yediyurappa]]
|term_start13   = 2008
| successor12    = [[Jagadish Shettar]]
|term_end13     = 2009
| term_start13  = 5 June 2008
|constituency13 = [[Chittapur (Vidhana Sabha constituency)|Chittapur]]
| term_end13    = 28 May 2009
|predecessor13   = [[Vishwanath Patil Hebbal]]  
| predecessor13  = [[N. Dharam Singh]]
|successor13     = [[Valmiki Naik]]
| successor13    = [[Siddaramaiah]]
| office14      = [[Ministry of Home Affairs]], [[Government of Karnataka]]
| office14      = [[Ministry of Home Affairs]], [[Government of Karnataka]]
| term_start14  = 1999
| term_start14  = 1999
Line 104: Line 105:
| 2namedata19    = [[Veerappa Moily]]
| 2namedata19    = [[Veerappa Moily]]
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1942|7|21|df=y}}
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1942|7|21|df=y}}
| birth_place    = Varwatti, [[Bidar district]], [[Hyderabad State]], [[British Raj|British India]] (present-day [[Karnataka]], [[India]])
| birth_place    = Warwatti, Bhalki taluka, [[Bidar district]], [[Hyderabad State]], [[British Raj|British India]] (present-day [[Karnataka]], [[India]])
|death_date      =  
|death_date      =  
|death_place    =  
|death_place    =  
Line 113: Line 114:
|alma_mater      = Government College, Gulbarga <br /> [[Gulbarga University]]
|alma_mater      = Government College, Gulbarga <br /> [[Gulbarga University]]
}}
}}
'''Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge''' (born 21 July 1942) is an Indian politician who is the current [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]] from [[Karnataka]] and [[Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha|Leader of the Opposition of Rajya Sabha]] from 16 February 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/congress-names-mallikarjun-kharge-for-leader-of-opposition-in-rajya-sabha/articleshow/80874690.cms | title=Congress names Mallikarjun Kharge for leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=12 February 2021 | access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref> He is the former [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Minister of Railways]] and [[Ministry of Labour and Employment (India)|Minister of Labour and Employment]] in the [[Government of India]]. Kharge is a member of the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) political party<ref>{{cite news|title=Spectacular rise for Kharge|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/29/stories/2009052953700400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602195153/http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/29/stories/2009052953700400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 June 2009|date=29 May 2009|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date = 29 May 2009}}</ref> and was a [[Parliament of India|Member of Parliament]] for [[Gulbarga (Lok Sabha constituency)|Gulbarga]], [[Karnataka]] during 2009–2019.
'''Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge''' (born 21 July 1942) is an Indian politician who is the 99th and current president of [[Indian National Congress]]. He also a  [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]] from [[Karnataka]] and [[Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha|Leader of the Opposition of Rajya Sabha]] from 16 February 2021 to 1 October 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/congress-names-mallikarjun-kharge-for-leader-of-opposition-in-rajya-sabha/articleshow/80874690.cms | title=Congress names Mallikarjun Kharge for leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=12 February 2021 | access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref> He is the former [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Minister of Railways]] and [[Ministry of Labour and Employment (India)|Minister of Labour and Employment]] in the [[Government of India]]. Kharge is a member of the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) political party<ref>{{cite news|title=Spectacular rise for Kharge|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/29/stories/2009052953700400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602195153/http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/29/stories/2009052953700400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 June 2009|date=29 May 2009|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date = 29 May 2009}}</ref> and was a [[Parliament of India|Member of Parliament]] for [[Gulbarga (Lok Sabha constituency)|Gulbarga]], [[Karnataka]] during 2009–2019.


He is a senior Karnataka politician and was the [[Leader of opposition]] in the [[2018 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|Karnataka Legislative Assembly]].  He was the President of [[Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee]] during the 2008 Karnataka State Assembly Elections.
He is a senior Karnataka politician and was the [[Leader of opposition]] in the [[2018 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|Karnataka Legislative Assembly]].  He was the President of [[Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee]] during the 2008 Karnataka State Assembly Elections.


He has won elections for a record 10 consecutive times having won the Assembly elections for an unprecedented 9 consecutive times (1972, 1978, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2009) and lost in the 2019  General Elections against Umesh Jadhav from Gulbarga. Mallikarjun Kharge was the leader of the congress party in Lok Sabha during 2014–2019.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Indian Express|title=Team Manmohan|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-newlook-team-manmohan/467056/3}}</ref>
He has won elections a record 10 consecutive times having won the Assembly elections an unprecedented 9 consecutive times (1972, 1978, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2009) and lost in the 2019  General Elections against Umesh Jadhav from Gulbarga. Mallikarjun Kharge was the leader of the congress party in Lok Sabha during 2014–2019.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Indian Express|title=Team Manmohan|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-newlook-team-manmohan/467056/3}}</ref>


==Early life and background==
==Early life and background==
Mallikarjun Kharge was born in the Varawatti, Bhalki Taluk, [[Bidar district]], [[Karnataka]] to Mapanna Kharge and Sabavva.<ref name=about/> 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.<ref name=about/> He started his legal practise as a junior in Justice [[Shivaraj Patil]]'s office and fought cases for labour unions early in his legal career.<ref name=career>{{cite web|title=Early life of Kharge|url=http://www.kharge.com/demo/political-career/|publisher=Press Journal Kharge|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>
Mallikarjun Kharge was born in the Varawatti, Bhalki Taluk, [[Bidar district]], [[Karnataka]] to Mapanna Kharge and Sabavva.<ref name=about/> 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.<ref name=about/> 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.<ref name=career>{{cite web|title=Early life of Kharge|url=http://www.kharge.com/demo/political-career/|publisher=Press Journal Kharge|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>


==Political career==
==Political career==
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===Rise in Karnataka's political scene===
===Rise in Karnataka's political scene===
He first contested for the Karnataka State Assembly elections in 1972 and won from [[Gurmitkal (Vidhana Sabha constituency)|Gurmitkal]] constituency. In 1973, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Octroi Abolition Committee which went into the question of revitalising the economy of the municipal and civic bodies in the state of Karnataka. Based on its report, the then [[Devaraj Urs]] government abolished the levy of octroi at multiple points.<ref name=octroi>{{cite news|title=Kharge on octroi during 1973 period|url=http://www.hindu.com/2001/08/22/stories/0422210o.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607000150/http://www.hindu.com/2001/08/22/stories/0422210o.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 June 2014|access-date=5 June 2014|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> In 1974, he was appointed as the Chairman of state-owned Leather Development Corporation and worked to improve the living conditions of thousands of cobblers who were indulging in the leather tanning industry. Work sheds cum residences were built across the state for their benefit during this time. In 1976, he was appointed as the Minister of State for Primary Education, during which time, over 16,000 backlog vacancies of SC/STs teachers were filled up by recruiting them directly into the service. Grants under grant-in-aid code were given to schools run by SC/ST managements for the first time.<ref name=work>{{cite web|title=Early political career|url=http://dpal.kar.nic.in/pdf_files/25%20of%201974%20(E).pdf|website=Department of Parliamentary Affairs & Legislation|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>
He first contested the Karnataka State Assembly elections in 1972 and won from [[Gurmitkal (Vidhana Sabha constituency)|Gurmitkal]] constituency. In 1973, he was appointed the Chairman of the Octroi Abolition Committee which went into the question of revitalising the economy of the municipal and civic bodies in the state of Karnataka. Based on its report, the then [[Devaraj Urs]] government abolished the levy of octroi at multiple points.<ref name=octroi>{{cite news|title=Kharge on octroi during 1973 period|url=http://www.hindu.com/2001/08/22/stories/0422210o.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607000150/http://www.hindu.com/2001/08/22/stories/0422210o.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 June 2014|access-date=5 June 2014|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> In 1974, he was appointed the Chairman of state-owned Leather Development Corporation and worked to improve the living conditions of thousands of cobblers who were indulging in the leather tanning industry. Work sheds cum residences were built across the state for their benefit during this time. In 1976, he was appointed the Minister of State for Primary Education, during which time, over 16,000 backlog vacancies of SC/STs teachers were filled up by recruiting them directly into the service. Grants under grant-in-aid code were given to schools run by SC/ST managements for the first time.<ref name=work>{{cite web|title=Early political career|url=http://dpal.kar.nic.in/pdf_files/25%20of%201974%20(E).pdf|website=Department of Parliamentary Affairs & Legislation|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>


In 1978, he was elected for the second time as MLA from [[Gurmitkal (Vidhana Sabha constituency)|Gurmitkal]] constituency and was appointed as Minister of State for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj in the Devaraj Urs ministry. In 1980, he became the Minister for Revenue in the [[Gundu Rao]] Cabinet. During this time, the focus was on effective land reforms, resulting in giving occupancy rights to millions of land-less tillers and labourers. More than 400 land tribunals were constituted to expedite the transfer of land rights to the tillers.<ref name="early work">{{cite web|title=Kharge as Chairman of State-owned Leather Development Corporation|url=http://agkar.cag.gov.in/sites/agkar.cag.gov.in/files/WEBFM/auditreport/2013/English%20PSU%202013.pdf|website=cag.gov.in|publisher=Indian Audit and Accounts Department|access-date=5 June 2014}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 1983, he was elected for the third time to the Karnataka Assembly from Gurmitkal. In 1985, he was elected for the fourth time to the Karnataka Assembly from Gurmitkal and was appointed as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly.
In 1978, he was elected for the second time as MLA from [[Gurmitkal (Vidhana Sabha constituency)|Gurmitkal]] constituency and was appointed Minister of State for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj in the Devaraj Urs ministry. In 1980, he became the Minister for Revenue in the [[Gundu Rao]] Cabinet. During this time, the focus was on effective land reforms, resulting in giving occupancy rights to millions of land-less tillers and labourers. More than 400 land tribunals were constituted to expedite the transfer of land rights to the tillers.<ref name="early work">{{cite web|title=Kharge as Chairman of State-owned Leather Development Corporation|url=http://agkar.cag.gov.in/sites/agkar.cag.gov.in/files/WEBFM/auditreport/2013/English%20PSU%202013.pdf|website=cag.gov.in|publisher=Indian Audit and Accounts Department|access-date=5 June 2014}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 1983, he was elected for the third time to the Karnataka Assembly from Gurmitkal. In 1985, he was elected for the fourth time to the Karnataka Assembly from Gurmitkal and was appointed the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly.


In 1989, he was elected for the fifth time to the Karnataka Assembly from Gurmitkal. In 1990, he joined [[Bangarappa]]’s Cabinet as the Minister for Revenue, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, portfolios he had held earlier and brought about significant change. Restarting the Land Reforms process that had stopped in the interim, resulted in hundreds of thousands of acres of land being registered in the name of the landless tillers.<ref name=perfromance>{{cite web|title=Kharge performance in Karnataka|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1989/Statistical_Report_karnataka_1989.pdf|website=Election Commission of India|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>
In 1989, he was elected for the fifth time to the Karnataka Assembly from Gurmitkal. In 1990, he joined [[Bangarappa]]’s Cabinet as the Minister for Revenue, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, portfolios he had held earlier and brought about significant change. Restarting the Land Reforms process that had stopped in the interim, resulted in hundreds of thousands of acres of land being registered in the name of the landless tillers.<ref name=perfromance>{{cite web|title=Kharge performance in Karnataka|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1989/Statistical_Report_karnataka_1989.pdf|website=Election Commission of India|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>
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Between 1992 and 1994, he was the Minister for Co-operation, Medium and Large Industries in the [[Veerappa Moily]] Cabinet. In 1994, he was elected for the sixth time to the Karnataka Assembly from [[Gurmitkal (Vidhana Sabha constituency)|Gurmitkal]] and became the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. In 1999, he was elected for the seventh time to the Karnataka Assembly and was a front-runner to the post of Chief Minister of Karnataka. He became Minister for Home in the [[S. M. Krishna]] Cabinet during a particularly trying time for Karnataka especially the [[Dr. Rajkumar|Rajkumar]] kidnap by the notorious poacher [[Veerappan]] and the Cauvery Riots. In 2004, he was elected for the eighth consecutive time to the Karnataka Assembly and was once again considered a front-runner to the post of the Chief Minister of Karnataka. He became the Minister for Transport and Water Resources in the [[Dharam Singh]]-led coalition government.
Between 1992 and 1994, he was the Minister for Co-operation, Medium and Large Industries in the [[Veerappa Moily]] Cabinet. In 1994, he was elected for the sixth time to the Karnataka Assembly from [[Gurmitkal (Vidhana Sabha constituency)|Gurmitkal]] and became the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. In 1999, he was elected for the seventh time to the Karnataka Assembly and was a front-runner to the post of Chief Minister of Karnataka. He became Minister for Home in the [[S. M. Krishna]] Cabinet during a particularly trying time for Karnataka especially the [[Dr. Rajkumar|Rajkumar]] kidnap by the notorious poacher [[Veerappan]] and the Cauvery Riots. In 2004, he was elected for the eighth consecutive time to the Karnataka Assembly and was once again considered a front-runner to the post of the Chief Minister of Karnataka. He became the Minister for Transport and Water Resources in the [[Dharam Singh]]-led coalition government.


In 2005, he was appointed as the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. In the Panchayat elections held soon after, Congress won the largest number of seats compared to BJP and JD(S) indicating a revival of the Congress fortunes in the rural areas of Karnataka.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper = Indian Express|title = Congress scores big win in local polls|url = http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/84817/}}</ref> In 2008, he was elected for the record ninth consecutive time to the Assembly from [[Chittapur (Vidhana Sabha constituency)|Chitapur]]. Though the Congress party put up a better show when compared to the 2004 elections, the Congress lost the elections with a majority of the senior leaders losing. He was appointed as the Leader of the Opposition for the second time in 2008. In 2009, Kharge contested the general elections from Gulbarga Parliamentary Constituency and won his tenth consecutive election.<ref name=win>{{cite news|last1=Phukan|first1=Sandip|title=Mallikarjun Kharge consecutive win|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/mallikarjun-kharge-not-rahul-gandhi-to-lead-congress-in-lok-sabha-534829|access-date=5 June 2014|work=NDTV|date=3 June 2014}}</ref>
In 2005, he was appointed the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. In the Panchayat elections held soon after, Congress won the largest number of seats compared to BJP and JD(S) indicating a revival of the Congress fortunes in the rural areas of Karnataka.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper = Indian Express|title = Congress scores big win in local polls|url = http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/84817/}}</ref> In 2008, he was elected for the record ninth consecutive time to the Assembly from [[Chittapur (Vidhana Sabha constituency)|Chitapur]]. Though the Congress party put up a better show when compared to the 2004 elections, the Congress lost the elections with a majority of the senior leaders losing. He was appointed the Leader of the Opposition for the second time in 2008. In 2009, Kharge contested the general elections from Gulbarga Parliamentary Constituency and won his tenth consecutive election.<ref name=win>{{cite news|last1=Phukan|first1=Sandip|title=Mallikarjun Kharge consecutive win|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/mallikarjun-kharge-not-rahul-gandhi-to-lead-congress-in-lok-sabha-534829|access-date=5 June 2014|work=NDTV|date=3 June 2014}}</ref>


In the 2014 general elections, Kharge contested and won from the Gulbarga parliamentary seat, beating his closest rival from the BJP by over 73,000 votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gulbarga(Karnataka) Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 -Gulbarga Parliamentary Constituency, Winning MP and Party Name |url=http://www.elections.in/karnataka/parliamentary-constituencies/gulbarga.html |website=www.elections.in |access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref> In June, he was appointed as the Leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sonia picks Mallikarjun Kharge over 'unwilling' Rahul as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/sonia-picks-mallikarjun-kharge-over-unwilling-rahul-as-leader-of-opposition-in-lok-sabha/ |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=3 June 2014 |language=en}}</ref>
In the 2014 general elections, Kharge contested and won from the Gulbarga parliamentary seat, beating his closest rival from the BJP by over 73,000 votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gulbarga(Karnataka) Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 -Gulbarga Parliamentary Constituency, Winning MP and Party Name |url=http://www.elections.in/karnataka/parliamentary-constituencies/gulbarga.html |website=www.elections.in |access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref> In June, he was appointed the Leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sonia picks Mallikarjun Kharge over 'unwilling' Rahul as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/sonia-picks-mallikarjun-kharge-over-unwilling-rahul-as-leader-of-opposition-in-lok-sabha/ |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=3 June 2014 |language=en}}</ref>


Kharge contested the [[2019 Indian general election|2019 general elections]] against [[Umesh. G. Jadhav]], a BJP candidate, in [[Gulbarga (Lok Sabha constituency)|Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency]] of [[Karnataka]]. Jadhav defeated Mallikarjun Kharge by a margin of 95,452 votes. Jadhav polled 6,20,192 votes while Kharge got only 5,24,740 votes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/article/shocking-congress-leader-mallikarjun-kharge-defeated-by-bjp-s-umesh-jadhav-in-gulbarga/423853|title=Shocking! Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge defeated by BJP's Umesh Jadhav in Gulbarga election results 2019|work=Times Now|date=23 May 2019|access-date=23 May 2019}}</ref>
Kharge contested the [[2019 Indian general election|2019 general elections]] against [[Umesh. G. Jadhav]], a BJP candidate, in [[Gulbarga (Lok Sabha constituency)|Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency]] of [[Karnataka]]. Jadhav defeated Mallikarjun Kharge by a margin of 95,452 votes. Jadhav polled 6,20,192 votes while Kharge got only 5,24,740 votes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/article/shocking-congress-leader-mallikarjun-kharge-defeated-by-bjp-s-umesh-jadhav-in-gulbarga/423853|title=Shocking! Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge defeated by BJP's Umesh Jadhav in Gulbarga election results 2019|work=Times Now|date=23 May 2019|access-date=23 May 2019}}</ref>
Line 147: Line 148:
On 12 June 2020 Kharge was elected (unopposed) to the [[Rajya Sabha]] from Karnataka, at the age of 78 years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Joshi |first1=Bharath |title=H D Deve Gowda, Mallikarjun Kharge elected unanimously to Rajya Sabha from Karnataka |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/h-d-deve-gowda-mallikarjun-kharge-elected-unanimously-to-rajya-sabha-from-karnataka-848832.html |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=Deccan Herald |date=12 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref>  
On 12 June 2020 Kharge was elected (unopposed) to the [[Rajya Sabha]] from Karnataka, at the age of 78 years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Joshi |first1=Bharath |title=H D Deve Gowda, Mallikarjun Kharge elected unanimously to Rajya Sabha from Karnataka |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/h-d-deve-gowda-mallikarjun-kharge-elected-unanimously-to-rajya-sabha-from-karnataka-848832.html |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=Deccan Herald |date=12 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref>  


On 12 February 2021, Kharge was appointed as [[Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha|Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha]].<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mallikarjun-kharge-likely-to-be-leader-of-opposition-in-rajya-sabha-congress-sources/article33818232.ece |title=Kharge to be Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha|work=The Hindu|date=12 February 2021|access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref>
On 12 February 2021, Kharge was appointed [[Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha|Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha]].<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mallikarjun-kharge-likely-to-be-leader-of-opposition-in-rajya-sabha-congress-sources/article33818232.ece |title=Kharge to be Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha|work=The Hindu|date=12 February 2021|access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref>


==Philanthropic and social activities==
==Philanthropic and social activities==

Latest revision as of 13:23, 16 November 2022


Mallikarjun Kharge
File:MallikarjunKharge.jpg
President of Indian National Congress
Assumed office
17 October 2022
Preceded bySonia Gandhi
Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha
In office
16 February 2021 (2021-02-16) – 1 October 2022
Chairman
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded byGhulam Nabi Azad
Leader of Indian National Congress, Lok Sabha
In office
4 June 2014 – 16 June 2019
Preceded bySushilkumar Shinde
Succeeded byAdhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Chairperson of Public Accounts Committee
In office
2016–2019
Appointed bySumitra Mahajan (Lok Sabha Speaker)
Preceded byK V Thomas
Succeeded byAdhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Minister of Railways
In office
17 June 2013 – 26 May 2014
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded byC. P. Joshi
Succeeded byD. V. Sadananda Gowda
Minister of Labour and Employment
In office
29 May 2009 – 16 June 2013
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded byOscar Fernandes
Succeeded bySis Ram Ola
Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly
In office
19 December 1996 – 7 July 1999
Preceded byB. S. Yediyurappa
Succeeded byJagadish Shettar
In office
5 June 2008 – 28 May 2009
Preceded byN. Dharam Singh
Succeeded bySiddaramaiah
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Assumed office
12 June 2020
Preceded byRajeev Gowda
ConstituencyKarnataka
General Secretary of
AICC and Incharge for Maharashtra
In office
22 June 2018 – 11 September 2020
Preceded byPosition Created
Succeeded byH. K. Patil
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
31 May 2009 – 23 May 2019
Preceded byIqbal Ahmed Saradgi
Succeeded byUmesh. G. Jadhav
ConstituencyGulbarga
President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee
In office
2005–2008
Preceded byJanardhana Poojary
Succeeded byR. V. Deshpande
Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Karnataka
In office
1972–2008
Preceded byN. Yenkappa
Succeeded byBaburao Chinchansur
ConstituencyGurmitkal
In office
2008–2009
Preceded byVishwanath Patil Hebbal
Succeeded byValmiki Naik
ConstituencyChittapur
Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Karnataka
In office
1999–2004
Chief MinisterS. M. Krishna
Minister of Rural Development, Government of Karnataka
In office
1978–1980
In office
1990–1992
Personal details
Born (1942-07-21) 21 July 1942 (age 82)
Warwatti, Bhalki taluka, Bidar district, Hyderabad State, British India (present-day Karnataka, India)
Political partyIndian National Congress
Spouse(s)
Radhabai Kharge
(
m. 1968)
Children5
Alma materGovernment College, Gulbarga
Gulbarga University

Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge (born 21 July 1942) is an Indian politician who is the 99th and current president of Indian National Congress. He also a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from Karnataka and Leader of the Opposition of Rajya Sabha from 16 February 2021 to 1 October 2022.[1] He is the former Minister of Railways and Minister of Labour and Employment in the Government of India. Kharge is a member of the Indian National Congress (INC) political party[2] and was a Member of Parliament for Gulbarga, Karnataka during 2009–2019.

He is a senior Karnataka politician and was the Leader of opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. He was the President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee during the 2008 Karnataka State Assembly Elections.

He has won elections a record 10 consecutive times having won the Assembly elections an unprecedented 9 consecutive times (1972, 1978, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2009) and lost in the 2019 General Elections against Umesh Jadhav from Gulbarga. Mallikarjun Kharge was the leader of the congress party in Lok Sabha during 2014–2019.[3]

Early life and background[edit]

Mallikarjun Kharge was born in the Varawatti, Bhalki Taluk, Bidar district, Karnataka to Mapanna Kharge and Sabavva.[4] 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.[4] 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.[5]

Political career[edit]

Early career[edit]

Kharge started his political career as a student union leader while in the Government College, Gulbarga when he was elected as the General Secretary of the students' body. In 1969, he became the legal advisor to the MSK Mills Employees' Union. He was also an influential labour union leader of Samyukta Majdoor Sangha and led many agitations fighting for the rights of labourers.[6] In 1969, he joined the Indian National Congress and became President of the Gulbarga City Congress Committee

Rise in Karnataka's political scene[edit]

He first contested the Karnataka State Assembly elections in 1972 and won from Gurmitkal constituency. In 1973, he was appointed the Chairman of the Octroi Abolition Committee which went into the question of revitalising the economy of the municipal and civic bodies in the state of Karnataka. Based on its report, the then Devaraj Urs government abolished the levy of octroi at multiple points.[7] In 1974, he was appointed the Chairman of state-owned Leather Development Corporation and worked to improve the living conditions of thousands of cobblers who were indulging in the leather tanning industry. Work sheds cum residences were built across the state for their benefit during this time. In 1976, he was appointed the Minister of State for Primary Education, during which time, over 16,000 backlog vacancies of SC/STs teachers were filled up by recruiting them directly into the service. Grants under grant-in-aid code were given to schools run by SC/ST managements for the first time.[8]

In 1978, he was elected for the second time as MLA from Gurmitkal constituency and was appointed Minister of State for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj in the Devaraj Urs ministry. In 1980, he became the Minister for Revenue in the Gundu Rao Cabinet. During this time, the focus was on effective land reforms, resulting in giving occupancy rights to millions of land-less tillers and labourers. More than 400 land tribunals were constituted to expedite the transfer of land rights to the tillers.[9] In 1983, he was elected for the third time to the Karnataka Assembly from Gurmitkal. In 1985, he was elected for the fourth time to the Karnataka Assembly from Gurmitkal and was appointed the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly.

In 1989, he was elected for the fifth time to the Karnataka Assembly from Gurmitkal. In 1990, he joined Bangarappa’s Cabinet as the Minister for Revenue, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, portfolios he had held earlier and brought about significant change. Restarting the Land Reforms process that had stopped in the interim, resulted in hundreds of thousands of acres of land being registered in the name of the landless tillers.[10]

Between 1992 and 1994, he was the Minister for Co-operation, Medium and Large Industries in the Veerappa Moily Cabinet. In 1994, he was elected for the sixth time to the Karnataka Assembly from Gurmitkal and became the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. In 1999, he was elected for the seventh time to the Karnataka Assembly and was a front-runner to the post of Chief Minister of Karnataka. He became Minister for Home in the S. M. Krishna Cabinet during a particularly trying time for Karnataka especially the Rajkumar kidnap by the notorious poacher Veerappan and the Cauvery Riots. In 2004, he was elected for the eighth consecutive time to the Karnataka Assembly and was once again considered a front-runner to the post of the Chief Minister of Karnataka. He became the Minister for Transport and Water Resources in the Dharam Singh-led coalition government.

In 2005, he was appointed the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. In the Panchayat elections held soon after, Congress won the largest number of seats compared to BJP and JD(S) indicating a revival of the Congress fortunes in the rural areas of Karnataka.[11] In 2008, he was elected for the record ninth consecutive time to the Assembly from Chitapur. Though the Congress party put up a better show when compared to the 2004 elections, the Congress lost the elections with a majority of the senior leaders losing. He was appointed the Leader of the Opposition for the second time in 2008. In 2009, Kharge contested the general elections from Gulbarga Parliamentary Constituency and won his tenth consecutive election.[12]

In the 2014 general elections, Kharge contested and won from the Gulbarga parliamentary seat, beating his closest rival from the BJP by over 73,000 votes.[13] In June, he was appointed the Leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha.[14]

Kharge contested the 2019 general elections against Umesh. G. Jadhav, a BJP candidate, in Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency of Karnataka. Jadhav defeated Mallikarjun Kharge by a margin of 95,452 votes. Jadhav polled 6,20,192 votes while Kharge got only 5,24,740 votes.[15]

On 12 June 2020 Kharge was elected (unopposed) to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, at the age of 78 years.[16]

On 12 February 2021, Kharge was appointed Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha.[17]

Philanthropic and social activities[edit]

He is the Founder-Chairman of Siddharth Vihar Trust that has built the Buddha Vihar in Gulbarga, India.[18]

He is the Patron of Chowdiah Memorial Hall which is one of the premier concert and theatre venues in Bangalore and helped the centre get over its debts and aided the centre's plans for renovation.[19]

Personal life[edit]

Kharge married Radhabai on 13 May 1968 and has two daughters and three sons.[4][20] In 2006, Kharge said he follows Buddhism.[21]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Congress names Mallikarjun Kharge for leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha". The Times of India. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "Spectacular rise for Kharge". The Hindu. 29 May 2009. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  3. ↑ "Team Manmohan". Indian Express.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Detailed Profile". Government of India. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  5. ↑ "Early life of Kharge". Press Journal Kharge. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  6. ↑ "Friends, teachers laud Kharge". Indian Express.
  7. ↑ "Kharge on octroi during 1973 period". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  8. ↑ "Early political career" (PDF). Department of Parliamentary Affairs & Legislation. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  9. ↑ "Kharge as Chairman of State-owned Leather Development Corporation" (PDF). cag.gov.in. Indian Audit and Accounts Department. Retrieved 5 June 2014.[permanent dead link]
  10. ↑ "Kharge performance in Karnataka" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Congress scores big win in local polls". Indian Express.
  12. ↑ Phukan, Sandip (3 June 2014). "Mallikarjun Kharge consecutive win". NDTV. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  13. ↑ "Gulbarga(Karnataka) Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 -Gulbarga Parliamentary Constituency, Winning MP and Party Name". www.elections.in. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  14. ↑ "Sonia picks Mallikarjun Kharge over 'unwilling' Rahul as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha". The Indian Express. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  15. ↑ "Shocking! Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge defeated by BJP's Umesh Jadhav in Gulbarga election results 2019". Times Now. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  16. ↑ Joshi, Bharath (12 June 2020). "H D Deve Gowda, Mallikarjun Kharge elected unanimously to Rajya Sabha from Karnataka". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  17. ↑ "Kharge to be Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha". The Hindu. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  18. ↑ "About Buddha Vihar, Gulbarga". Buddha vihar Gulbarga.
  19. ↑ "A grand bow to the arts". The Hindu. 1 July 2005. Archived from the original on 27 January 2011.
  20. ↑ "Personal life of Mallikarjun Kharge". Business Standard. 3 June 2014. Archived from the original on 3 June 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  21. ↑ "Hundreds embrace Buddhism in Gulbarga | Bengaluru News – Times of India". The Times of India. 15 October 2006. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
Lok Sabha
Preceded by
Iqbal Ahmed Saradgi 		Member of Parliament
for Gulbarga
2009–2019 		Succeeded by
Umesh. G. Jadhav
Political offices
Preceded by
Oscar Fernandes 		Minister of Labour and Employment
2009–2013 		Succeeded by
Sis Ram Ola
Preceded by
CP Joshi 		Minister of Railways
2013–2014 		Succeeded by
DV Sadananda Gowda
Party political offices
Preceded by
Janardhana Poojary 		President of
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee
2005–2008 		Succeeded by
R. V. Deshpande
Preceded by
Sushilkumar Shinde 		Leader of the Indian National Congress
in the Lok Sabha
2014–2019 		Succeeded by
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Preceded by
Ghulam Nabi Azad 		Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha
2021 – Present 		Incumbent
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