Mallikarjun Kharge Faces Immediate And Long-Term Challenges

New Delhi: Newly elected National President of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge took charge on Wednesday. He took over the work by reaching the office of All India Congress Committee in New Delhi. Kharge faces both immediate and long-term challenges.

I am feeling relieved, says Sonia: During this, along with former party president Sonia Gandhi, MP Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were present. Sonia Gandhi said that the burden of Congress President has now been lifted from her. Now I am feeling relieved. Sonia said that she congratulates the new party president Kharge ji. What is most satisfying is the fact that Kharge ji is an experienced and down-to-earth leader. Working as a simple worker, he has reached this height with his hard work and dedication.

All the members of Congress Working Committee, MPs, State Congress Committee Presidents, Congress Legislature Party leaders, former Chief Ministers, former State Presidents and other office bearers of AICC were invited in this programme.

Emotional moment for me, says Kharge: Mallikarjun Kharge said that Sonia Gandhi has handled the Congress with a lot of hard work. This is an emotional moment for me. Thank you to the leaders and workers of the party for giving so much respect.

Before taking charge, Mallikarjun Kharge paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

Elections are due in many states: There are challenges in front of Kharge. On one hand, the political crisis of Rajasthan is in front of him as an immediate challenge. At the same time, the assembly elections of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, which are going to be held in the next few weeks, are also a big challenge. After this, Kharge will have to face the challenge of assembly elections in more than half a dozen states including MP, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, while the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 will also be no less than a litmus test for him.

Party unity also a big challenge: Kharge will face many challenges to strengthen the party ahead of the 2024 general elections. Congress's hopes of doing better in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections are a big challenge. On the other hand, the ongoing tug of war within the party in Rajasthan and Karnataka has added to the party's troubles. In such a situation, uniting the party before the 2024 general elections will be a big challenge for Kharge. However, some things are also in favor of Kharge.

Assembly elections in 9 states in 2023: Kharge's image has been of taking everyone along and this quality of his can prove to be very beneficial for him. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has a strong hold in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. At present, only two states of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have a Congress government. Assembly elections are to be held in 9 states in 2023. Among them is his home state Karnataka.

The notion of remote control has to get rid of: Kharge has to strike a balance between experienced leaders and youth. He will also have to prove that he is not remote controlled by Gandhi family. One challenge before him will be to face the even bigger challenge of implementing the Udaipur Navsankalp.

Earlier, Kharge had said during campaigning, “A lot of people say there will be remote control. They say I will do what Sonia Gandhi will say. There is no such thing as remote control in Congress, people take decisions together, like working committee, election committee, parliamentary board. Remote control is thinking of some proplr. A few people are creating this idea.”