The upcoming Lok Sabha elections in India have set the stage for intense strategizing among the opposition coalition I.N.D.I.A.’s leaders. During a meeting held on Tuesday (December 19) in Delhi, discussions revolved around the prime ministerial candidate for the opposition coalition. Key figures such as Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, and Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi’s Chief Minister, proposed the name of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for the role of Prime Ministerial candidate within the ‘India’ coalition.
However, Kharge dismissed this proposal, stating that there’s currently no necessity for such suggestions. He emphasized the need to focus on victory first and asserted that the determination of the Prime Minister could be addressed post-elections. Despite Kharge declining the proposal, questions arise regarding the selection of Mallikarjun Kharge by Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, especially when prominent alternatives were available. Exploring insights related to Kharge might reveal lesser-known aspects about him.
Kharge’s Enduring Tenure as Chief Minister
Mallikarjun Kharge has clinched victories in nine consecutive legislative assembly elections. Despite this remarkable achievement, he hasn’t ascended to the position of Chief Minister of Karnataka within the Congress Party. Kharge remained Chief Minister of Karnataka for three terms successively. His first tenure faced a setback in 1999 when S.M. Krishna surpassed him to become the CM. In 2004, his close associate, Dharam Singh, was unanimously selected as the CM candidate for the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition. His third term in 2013 witnessed Siddaramaiah securing a lead and surpassing him.
Electoral Setbacks in 2019 and Continuous Legislative Wins
Despite contesting in 12 elections over his 80-year life span, Kharge encountered defeat only once in 1999. The 2019 Lok Sabha elections marked a significant setback where Kharge succumbed to the Modi wave. Notably, his former aide, Umesh Jadhav, who used to manage his election campaigns, contested against him and later became a legislator. However, Jadhav eventually joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Consecutive Wins in State Assembly Elections
Kharge secured victories continuously from 1972 to 2008 in the Karnataka State Assembly elections, triumphing in Gurmitkal constituency eight times and once in Chittapur. Additionally, he clinched victories in the Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency in 2009 and 2014.
Second Congress President from Karnataka
Notably, Kharge is the second Congress President hailing from Karnataka. Prior to him, in the 1960s, S. Nijalingappa held the position of Congress Party President. Kharge defeated Shashi Tharoor in the Congress President election.
Mallikarjun Kharge’s political journey and his recurrent victories underscore his prominence in Karnataka’s political landscape, despite facing occasional setbacks. As the Lok Sabha elections approach, the spotlight remains on how these dynamics may shape the future of the opposition coalition.
