Politics 12 Jun, 2026

Kharge thanks Cong party, K'taka people on RS election, indicates this could be his last

Business To Business, New Delhi, 12^th June, 2026:    Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday expressed gratitude to the Indian National Congress, its leadership, particularly Sonia Gandhi, and the people of Karnataka after being elected to the Rajya Sabha from the state.
The 83-year-old veteran leader described the election as a significant milestone in his long political career and suggested it could be his final electoral contest.
"This is the 13th election in my political life, and it could be my last," Kharge said.
This will be Kharge's second term in the Rajya Sabha. Over the decades, he has held several important positions, including:

• Multiple terms as an MLA in Karnataka.
• Member of the Lok Sabha from Karnataka.
• Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
• President of the Congress party.

He is regarded as one of the most experienced leaders in Indian politics, with a public career spanning several decades.
Kharge also used the occasion to criticize the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the rejection of the nomination of Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan in Madhya Pradesh.
He described the rejection as:

• "Illegal"
• "Immoral"
• "Anti-democratic"

The controversy arose after election authorities rejected Natarajan's nomination over alleged omissions in her affidavit, leading to the unopposed election of BJP candidates from the state. The matter is now before the courts.
Kharge's re-election ensures the Congress retains one of its most senior leaders in Parliament at a time when the party is seeking to strengthen its position nationally. His remarks about the possibility of this being his last election also underscore the closing chapter of a political career that has included service in state politics, the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha.
At the same time, his comments on the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha elections indicate that the dispute over the rejection of the Congress nomination is likely to remain a contentious political issue in the coming days.