Karnataka Assembly Election 2023: Mallikarjun Kharge - will the Congress president lead the party back into power in Karnataka?

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023: Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge is currently serving as the president of the Indian National Congress, and shepherding the grand-old-party's campaign in poll-bound Karnataka. His role will become if Congress returns to power and the high command then has to choose from tall leaders like DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah and Jagadish Shettar as its chief ministerial candidate. 

The 80-year-old seasoned politician became the first leader of the party who is not a member of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty after 24 years. He previously served as the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha from 16 February 2021 till 1 October 2022.

He has also served as India's Minister of Railways and Minister of Labour and Employment. From 2009 until 2019, Kharge served as a member of Parliament for Gulbarga, Karnataka. He was the leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha during 2014–2019. He defeated Shashi Tharoor in the 2022 Indian National Congress presidential election.

Kharge's early career 

When he was a student at the Government College in Gulbarga, Kharge began his political career by becoming the General Secretary of the student body. He was hired in 1969 to serve as the MSK Mills Employees' Union's legal counsel.  

Kharge's attack on PM Modi  

Since the Congress ordered a JPC investigation into the claims of stock manipulation and financial fraud against the Adani Group in February, Kharge has been criticising the PM.

At an election rally in Kalaburagi, Kharge alleged that the prime minister was “protecting all the corrupt BJP leaders.”

Death threats 

Recently, Kharge received death threats. A top officer revealed on Monday, May 8, 2023, that the Rajasthan Police had charged local BJP MLA Madan Dilawar and BJP candidate Manikanta Rathod with murder and criminal intimidation for their comments against Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge.

“What is the average life expectancy in India? It is around 70 years. I am 81 years old now. I am already in the bonus period. If everything goes well, I may live another eight or nine years. If you [BJP] think your problems will be solved by eliminating me, just kill me. I am ready for it. But, don’t think that you will get rid of questions. If I am not there, somebody else will be there to question your misdeeds. I am not afraid of your death threats. I won’t stop speaking the truth and exposing your misdeeds. I would continue to do my duty no matter who would do what to silence me,” Kharge said at a public meeting in Kalaburagi.

The FIR has been filed at Sanjay Circle Police Station at the complaint of Congress state secretary Ram Singh Kaswan.

Karnataka Election 2023: Schedule 

Single-phase Karnataka Assembly Election has been scheduled on May 10, 2023 (Wednesday).

The counting of votes will be done on May 13, 2023 (Saturday).

In an Assembly of 224 seats, the majority mark is 113.