If you are the opposition, the question that makes you mind – how do you stop the mastodon of Narendra Modi? And it seems that the answer lies in Mallikarjun Kharge.
In the middle of the drama of a record of 141 deputies of oppositions suspended in Parliament, the Bloc of the National Indian Inclusive Development Alliance (India) met on Tuesday for its fourth meeting in the capital where the Congress of Trinamool ( TMC) and the chief minister of Western Bengal Mamata Banerjee proposed that the Congress of Trinamool (TMC) and the chief Minister of Western Bengal Mamata Banerjee proposed that the Congress proposed that the Congress of Trinamool proposed the Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress Congress should be faced with the PM in the next Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
According to meeting leaders, Banerjee said: “He can be the first Dalit Prime Minister of India.”
Kharge Banerjee’s suggestion as a candidate for the Prime Minister also received the approval of the Aam Aadmi (AAP) party leader, Arvind Kejriwal, who said: “I did research and I can say with confidence that Having elections with a Dalit face will be a great advantage. We did not have a Dalit as a PM and that will help us, especially in Karnataka. »»
However, the chief of the congress paid cold water on the level, saying that the decision on the Prime Minister’s candidate would be taken after the elections. “We must first win and get a majority, so deputies will decide democratically,” Kharge told journalists when asked if he could be the face of the opposition PM.
Video | “(Western Bengal CM) Mamata Banerjee proposed that we (India Alliance) should project (president of the congress) Mallikarjun Kharge as a candidate for PM. Says that we should… pic.twitter.com/t0bwkz8gcv
– Press Trust of India (@pti_news) December 19, 2023
In particular, Banerjee’s field for Kharge was a surprising turn of events at the fourth meeting of the opposition block, several participants being taken over.
But even if Kharge arranged the concept of directing the alliance against Modi, many ask: can Khange really be a competitor of the PM in the polls?
Who is Mallikarjun Kharge?
Known as a loyalist of the Gandhi family, Mallikarjun Kharge, 80, is a deputy eight times deputy, the double deputy of Lok Sabha, and currently a member of Rajya Sabha.
Kharge, a leader in the Dalit community, remained away from controversies and maintained a clean image throughout his political career for several decades.
Born on July 21, 1942, in a poor family in the Karnataka Gulbarga district, Kharge studied law and practiced for a certain time before joining Congress in 1969, according to Indian Express.
Kharge ventured into electoral policy in 1972 and four years later, he became a minister for the first time in the Devaraj Urs government.
He won in his origin district of Gulbarga nine consecutive times during the elections of the Karnataka Assembly between 1972 and 2008.
After that, he moved to national policy and won two successive surveys of Lok Sabha (2009 and 2014) from the siege of Gulbarga.
In 1994, Kharge was appointed head of the opposition to the Karnataka Assembly, a role he assumed in 2008.
Kharge was minister in six different governments in Karnataka, but missed his luck to the chief minister after three times – in 1999, 2004 and 2013.
In 1999, he lost the chief minister of Karnataka to SM Krishna and had to settle for the reception portfolio.
Dharam Narayan Singh was appointed chief minister in 2004. According to news 18, Kharge supporters had implored him to express his dissatisfaction with Sonia Gandhi and refuse the ministerial berth. However, the experienced leader had rejected their requests, saying that he had never gone against the Gandhis and would not embarrass them.
In 2013, the Congress returned with a swinging majority in Karnataka and Siddaramaiah oath as a chief minister.
Working as president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee in 2005-08, Kharge had delivered the Congress the greatest number of seats against the BJP and JD (s) alliance, notes the Hindu.
He worked as Minister of the Union in the Government of Manmohan Singh-first as Minister of Labor (May 2009-June 2013) then as Minister of Railways (June 2013-May 2014).
From 2014 to 199, he was the head of the Congress at Lok Sabha.
Kharge, known as “Solilada Saradara” (a leader without defeat), underwent the first defeat of his electoral career in 2019 when he was beaten by the constituency of the BJP Umesh Jadhav in the district of Gulbarga Lok Sabha by A margin of 95,452 votes.
However, the management of the Congress brought him back to Parliament through the Rajya Sabha road and was elected without opposition to the upper chamber in June 2020 of Karnataka.
In October of last year, Kharge saw an increase in stature when he won the presidential elections of the congress, receiving 7,897 votes against 1,000 for Shashi Tharoor, while 416 votes were deemed invalid. His victory in the parties of the parties made him the first leader of the Gandhi party in 24 years.
Can Kharge arise as a challenger to Modi?
For many, Kharge’s impeccable career and widespread acceptability make him a viable competitor against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Many survey experts note that it is more acceptable than any other leader of the Alliance, with the possible exception of Sharad Pawar. From the point of view of non-delegates parties, it is also the most acceptable face in the congress.
In addition, he is supposed to be a more reasonable person to manage.
But what makes him, perhaps, the strongest competitor is his Dalit identity. A follower of Babasaheb Ambedkar, Kharge also shares good equations between Ambedkarite organizations. In addition, many political leaders as well as experts believe that his caste identity would be the biggest factor in favor of Kharge. In fact, if he becomes Prime Minister, he would be the first Dalit to occupy the office of the history of India.
Kharge is also known as the South Face and Karnataka is considered by many as a swing state for the 2024 elections.
And just like Modi, Kharge is also known to be an implacable politician – working 24/7 and is accessible.
However, despite these factors, it will be a difficult task for Kharge to deal with Modi. Perhaps one of the greatest factors that go against him is the fact that he has no resonance in the Hindi heart. Despite the Hindi, Kharge is not well known in the region.
Another factor that could harm Kharge is his age. The head of the congress is 80 years old and his age and lack of charisma (or as young people call him, Rizz) can hinder the awareness of the Indian block for young people and new voters. This would also strengthen the BJP accusation that Congress is not in line with the youth of India.
And finally, a major factor that goes against Kharge is his party – the congress. Many within the alliance may not be comfortable with the leader of the block from a party facing electoral defeats one after the other.
Only time will tell us if Kharge is, in fact, the competitor of Modi in the 2024 polls. For the moment, the alliance itself must meet, put aside its differences and carry out a viable strategy to present itself as An option for voters.
With agency entries
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