Veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday officially took charge as the president of Congress and pledged to fight against the politics of ‘lies and deceit’. Former party president Sonia Gandhi, MP Rahul Gandhi and party’s General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with other senior leaders and MPs were present at the occasion.
Kharge, who was elected the first Congress chief outside the Nehru-Gandhi family in 24 years, has his task cut out as the party faces several electoral and organisational challenges. Thanking the party workers, Kharge said he will work to protect the country from “politics of lies and deceit”.
“It is a difficult time and efforts are being made to change the democracy established by Congress. Now our country is seeing politics of lies and deceit. Congress will break the circle of lies and hatred prevailing in the country,” he added.
Targeting the BJP government at the Centre, the new Congress President said, “To make a new India, they want Congress-free India as they know that as long as Congress is there, they can’t do it. We will not let it happen and will continue to fight against it.”
Kharge, while addressing the party leaders, said, “Emotional moment for me, want to thank Congress people for making a worker’s son, an ordinary worker, the president of Congress. It is a matter of pride to carry forward the legacy of the Congress.”
The 80-year-old Congress veteran said that it was a matter of privilege and pride for him to handle the responsibility as a party which was led by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose.
“As president, it will be my utmost duty to look after our workers. Together, we will build an India that will be enlightened, empowered and equal for every citizen. We will uphold the Constitution of this country, respect everyone’s rights and give equal opportunities, defeat those who spread hate, and fight inflation, unemployment and hunger,” the party president added.
“It was on January 15, 1998, in Bengaluru when Sonia ji at her first public rally said she was taking her first political lessons from Karnataka. Her politics has been that of sacrifice and above self-interest and quest for power. Sonia ji always walks on the path of truth. In this era of politicians doing politics only for power, she has set an example of sacrifice, it is difficult to find any other person like her,” Kharge said.
Speaking about the upcoming elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, Kharge said that people want change in these states. “We will have to show our party’s strength in these elections. If we all work hard and with dedication, we will achieve success. We are the soldiers of Mahatma Gandhi. We are not scared of anyone. When a Congress worker will get rid of his fear, then even the biggest of kingdoms will be defeated.”
The new Congress Chief said that the contribution of the Congress party in the making of modern India is unmatched.
Later during the day, Kharge chaired a meeting of the party’s Central Election Committee (CEC) to finalise candidates for the Gujarat assembly polls. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi was also present at the meeting.
Meanwhile, all the members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), General Secretaries of All India Congress Committee and Incharges have tendered their resignations, paving the way for Kharge to build his own team.
