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India’s Congress occasion has elected the skilled Dalit chief Mallikarjun Kharge as its president. The primary “non-Gandhi” to carry this publish in 25 years, the veteran Congressman defeated diplomat-turned-politician Shashi Tharoor by a powerful majority. Of the full 9,385 votes forged, Kharge obtained 7,897 votes. Tharoor nonetheless shocked many by bagging 1,072 votes. Some 416 votes had been declared invalid.
Stating that “the method of revival of Congress has really begun,” Tharoor has assured Kharge of all help.
I wrote in a current article in The Diplomat that “The Congress occasion is hopeful that with a brand new incumbent who doesn’t belong to the Gandhi household as Congress President, it would blunt the assaults of political opponents accusing the Gandhis of getting a stranglehold over the occasion.”
That Kharge had the total help of the Gandhis was evident when outgoing President Sonia Gandhi, who has led the occasion for 22 years, and her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited Kharge’s house to congratulate him after his victory. Rahul Gandhi, who’s within the midst of a national lengthy march, the “Bharat Jodo Yatra” (Unite India March), congratulated Kharge and lauded him for his “expertise and ideological dedication” in addition to his “democratic imaginative and prescient.”
Kharge has been vocal and constant in his criticism of the fascist and communal insurance policies of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP) and the Sangh Parivar, a grouping of Hindu right-wing organizations of which the BJP is part.
Eighty-year-old Kharge is a grassroots politician who has risen up the ranks from being a labor union chief to occupying the highest publish within the 137-year-old Congress occasion. The son of a poor mill employee, he was the primary in his household to go to varsity and get a legislation diploma.
Kharge made a behavior of successful elections; he was elected to the Karnataka State Meeting 9 instances consecutively, between 1972 and 2008. Thereafter, he was elected a Member of Parliament in 2009 and 2014 and served as a minister in former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s cupboard.
Nevertheless, he misplaced the 2019 elections however returned to the higher home of Parliament in 2020.
Following his election as Congress occasion president, the BJP took a swipe at Kharge by alleging that he might be “distant managed” by the Gandhis. When questioned by reporters on his future position with a brand new Congress boss on the helm, Rahul stated that he would “report back to the brand new President.” “The brand new President will resolve my position,” he added.
As occasion president, Kharge has huge challenges forward.
The Congress occasion gained solely 44 seats in 2014, when it misplaced energy to the BJP, after which marginally elevated its tally to 53 seats within the 2019 common elections. The Congress vote share has additionally been steadily declining and now stands at solely 19.5 p.c, whereas the BJP vote share is a whopping 37.5 p.c. Together with its allies, the BJP has a virtually 45 p.c vote-share.
The Congress must deal with reclaiming its help base. Kharge has little time to do that. Basic elections are due in one other 18 months.
At current, Congress is in energy in simply two states, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the place it’s working the state governments. If the occasion must have even a preventing probability in 2024, it might want to win a number of of the upcoming meeting elections.
Practically a dozen states might be going to the polls within the 18 months earlier than the final election. The Congress is a powerful contender to win elections in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan.
As occasion chief, Kharge must strengthen state Congress models and curb factionalism to successfully tackle the BJP.
If there’s something that Congress must study from the BJP, it’s its clear deal with successful elections and all the time being battle prepared. It should not shun its secular ideological ethos.
Kharge is confronted with a number of challenges as occasion president however essentially the most vital is the duty of bridging the inter-generational divide throughout the occasion. Prior to now eight years, a number of leaders each junior and senior, have give up the occasion and joined the BJP. The truth that Tharoor acquired 12 p.c of the votes signifies that there’s a part inside Congress that wishes dynamic and youthful management. The organizational man that Kharge is, he’s finest suited to accommodate this section. Kharge already promised throughout his marketing campaign bid that he’ll give 50 p.c of posts to youth within the occasion.
Senior leaders have welcomed the graceful transition of the occasion management. A senior Congress chief, who didn’t need to be named, informed The Diplomat that “whereas Kharge is occasion president, Rahul is undoubtedly the most well-liked Congress chief and due to this fact the face of the occasion within the elections.” “Rahul Gandhi is the Congress’ prime ministerial candidate,” he stated, with out mincing phrases.
Congress leaders reject hypothesis that the occasion will now operate with “twin energy facilities.” As an alternative, most leaders see the 2 roles of Kharge as occasion president and Rahul because the Congress’ face as distinct, strengthening the occasion when the 2 work in tandem. As Congress chief and former minister Mani Shankar Aiyar informed The Diplomat, “All through Congress historical past, at any time when the 2 have labored in sync, the occasion has flourished.”
Kharge must adroitly navigate the Gandhis’ maintain over the occasion whereas shaking off the lethargy that had crept in throughout the occasion group. This might be a tall job. Whereas thanking Sonia and Rahul, Kharge stated he would “continue to look to them for guidance.” Congress insiders assert that looking for steerage from an skilled Sonia will solely assist strengthen the group.
Will a brand new occasion president and the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra rejuvenating the occasion cadre spell the start of a brand new period for Congress and increase its capability to tackle the BJP? Solely time will inform.
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