| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge [1]Hindustan Times |
| Names Earned | Solillada Saradara [2]Hindustan Times
Note: Solillada Saradara translates to “a leader without defeat.” Mallikarjun Kharge won the assembly elections in Karnataka 9 consecutive times from 1972 to 2008. The unprecedented wins were then followed by 2 consecutive wins in the general elections in 2009 and 2014. |
| Profession | Politician |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters– 178 cm in meters– 1.78 m in feet & inches– 5’ 10 ” |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Grey (half bald) |
| Politics | |
| Political Party | Indian National Congress (INC) (1969-Present) |
| Political Journey | • Joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1969 • Became the President of the Gulbarga City Congress Committee in 1969 • Elected as MLA from Gurmitkal Assembly constituency in Karnataka in 1972 • Chairman of the Municipal Finances Enquiry Committee (Octroi Abolition Committee) (1973) • Minister of State, (Independent charge) Primary and Secondary Education, Karnataka (1976-1978) • Re-elected as MLA from Gurmitkal Assembly constituency in 1978 • Cabinet Minister, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Government of Karnataka (1979) • Cabinet Minister, Revenue, Government of Karnataka (1980-1983) • Re-elected as MLA from Gurmitkal Assembly constituency in 1983 • Appointed as Secretary of Congress Legislature Party, Karnataka Legislative Assembly (1983) • Served as General Secretary, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (1983 – 1985) • Re-elected as MLA from Gurmitkal Assembly constituency in 1985 • Became Deputy Leader of Opposition, Karnataka Legislative Assembly in 1985 • Re-elected as MLA from Gurmitkal Assembly constituency in 1989 • Cabinet Minister, Revenue, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Government of Karnataka (1990-1992) • Cabinet Minister, Co-operation, Large and Medium Industries, Government of Karnataka (1992-1994) • Re-elected as MLA from Gurmitkal Assembly constituency in 1994 • Leader, Congress Legislature Party and Leader of Opposition, Karnataka Legislative Assembly (1996-1999 and 2008-2009) • Re-elected as MLA from Gurmitkal Assembly constituency in 1999 • Cabinet Minister for Home, Infrastructure Development and Minor Irrigation, Government of Karnataka (1999-2004) • Re-elected as MLA from Gurmitkal Assembly constituency in 2004 • Cabinet Minister, Water Resources, Minor Irrigation and Transport, Government of Karnataka (2004-2006) • President, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (2005-2008) • Elected MP from Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency in 2009 • Union Cabinet Minister, Labour and Employment (31 May 2009-17 June 2013) • Union Cabinet Minister, Railways and Social Justice and Empowerment (additional charge) (17 June 2013 – 26 May 2014) • Re-elected MP from Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency in 2014 • Leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha (May 2014 – May 2019) • Permanent Member, Congress Working Committee • Member of Committee on Home Affairs (September 2014 – May 2019) • Member of Joint Parliamentary Committee on Maintenance of Heritage Character and Development of Parliament House Complex (October 2014-May 2019) • Member of Committee on Installation of Portraits/Statues of National Leaders and Parliamentarians in Parliament House Complex (October 2014-May 2019) • Member of National Committee (NC) for commemorating the 125th Birth Anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (20 October 2014 – 2019) • Member of General Purposes Committee (January 2015 – May 2019) • Chairperson of Public Accounts Committee (May 2017 – April 2019) • Member of Committee on Budget of Lok Sabha (May 2017 – April 2019) • Became General Secretary of AICC in 2018 • Became a Member of CWC in 2018 • Contested and lost Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency in 2019 • Elected to Rajya Sabha in June 2020 • Member of Committee on Commerce (July 2020 – March 2021) • Member of Public Accounts Committee (February 2021 – April 2021) • Became Leader of the INC party, Rajya Sabha in February 2021 • Became Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha on 16 February 2021 • Member of General Purposes Committee in July 2021 • Tendered his resignation as the Leader of Opposition of Rajya Sabha in October 2022 for filing his nomination for the party’s presidential polls • Elected as the Congress President on 19 October 2022 after securing 7,897 out of the 9,385 votes polled, [3]The Hindu which was eight times more votes than his rival Shashi Tharoor [4]BBC |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 21 July 1942 (Tuesday) |
| Age (as of 2023) | 81 Years |
| Birthplace | Warwatti, Bidar, Hyderabad State, British India (now Bidar, Karnataka, India) |
| Zodiac sign | Cancer |
| Signature | |
| Nationality | • British Indian (21 July 1942-15 August 1947) • Indian (15 August 1947-Present) |
| Hometown | Gulbarga (now Kalaburagi), Karnataka |
| School | Nutana Vidyalaya, Gulbarga (till 10th standard) |
| College/University | • Government Arts and Science College, Gulbarga • Seth Shankarlal Lahoti Law College, Gulbarga |
| Educational Qualification | • Bachelor of Arts (BA) at Government Arts and Science College, Gulbarga, Karnataka • Bachelor of Legislative Law (LLB) at Seth Shankarlal Lahoti Law College, Gulbarga [5]My Neta |
| Religion/Religious Views | Buddhism
Note: Mallikarjun Kharge is also a staunch follower of B.R. Ambedkar and belives that Ambedkar’s monumental work “The Buddha and His Dhamma” gives us a better understanding of Buddhism. [6]The Hindu |
| Caste | Dalit [7]Hindustan Times |
| Address | Gulbarga Address “Lumbini” Aiwan-e-Shahi Area, Gulbarga, Karnataka-585102Bangalore Address 289, 17th Cross, Sadashivnagar, Bangalore-560080 |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Marriage Date | 13 May 1968 |
| Family | |
| Wife/Spouse | Radhabai Kharge |
| Children | Son(s)– Priyank Kharge (politician), Rahul Kharge (works as an advisor for IT companies), Milind Kharge Daughter(s)– Priyadarshini Kharge (doctor), Jayashree Kharge |
| Parents | Father– Mapanna Kharge Mother– Saibavva Kharge (deceased) |
| Money Factor | |
| Assets/Properties | Movable Assets • Cash: Rs 6,50,000 • Deposits in Banks, Financial Institutions and Non-Banking Financial Companies: Rs 1,74,93,120 • Bonds, Debentures and Shares in companies: Rs 25,37,214 • Jewellery: Rs 39,66,000Immovable Assets • Agricultural Land: Rs 1,44,36,200 • Non Agricultural Land: Rs 42,93,640 • Commercial Buildings: Rs 2,63,76,375 • Residential Buildings: Rs 8,79,70,348 Note: The given estimates of moveable and immovable assets are as per the financial year 2017-2018. [8]My Neta |
| Net Worth (as of 2017) | Rs 15,46,00,896 [9]My Neta |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Mallikarjun Kharge
- Mallikarjun Kharge, an Indian politician and member of the Indian National Congress (INC), began his tenure as a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament on 16 February 2021. Prior to this, he had served as the Minister of Railways and Ministry of Labour and Employment in the central government, and held the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. On 19 October 2022, he was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress.
- Kharge’s family had to escape their native village of Bidar at the age of seven due to violent communal riots. Tragically, he also suffered the loss of his mother during this tumultuous time. Eventually, the family found a new home in Gulbarga, which is now known as Kalaburagi.
- As a student, Kharge had a strong inclination towards politics. He held the position of General Secretary of the Students Union at Government Arts and Science College, Gulbarga from 1964 to 1965. Following this, he served as the Vice-President of the Students Union at Seth Shankarlal Lahoti Law College, Gulbarga from 1966 to 1967.
- As a student, he excelled in various sports, proudly representing his college and university in hockey tournaments. His talents extended beyond the hockey field, as he showcased his skills in kabaddi and football, earning numerous district and divisional-level accolades.
- Once he finished his formal education, he embarked on a short-lived career as a lawyer. Initially, he gained experience working under the guidance of Justice Shivaraj Patil, passionately advocating for the rights of MSK Mills’ trade union and other industrial workers.
- He embarked on a political career in 1969 by joining the INC and assuming the role of President of the Gulbarga City Congress Committee.
- Kharge is the second Member of Parliament from Gulbarga to be appointed as a Union Cabinet Minister, following C.M. Stephen who won a by-election in 1980.
- From 1974 to 1996, he held the position of President at Sri Siddhartha Education Society in Tumkur. Additionally, he also served as the President of the Karnataka People’s Education Society.
- Until 2012, he served as the President of Siddharth Vihar Trust, an organization he founded and currently holds the position of Founder-Chairman.
- Kharge actively supports the Chowdiah Memorial Hall, a renowned cultural center in Bangalore. He generously assisted in its renovation efforts and helped alleviate its financial burdens.
- In 2011, Mallikarjun Kharge’s daughter Priyadarshini gained attention for acquiring a site in the judicial layout. However, she was not eligible for this purchase as the land was reserved for judicial employees and she was a doctor by profession. Despite this, she managed to purchase site number 1,448 in Yelahanka (Allalasandra), a suburb of Bangalore, on 15 January 2002 for a significantly lower price than its market value. The land measured 3,280 sq ft, and by acquiring it, she would have violated Clause-10 of the Model Bye-laws of HBCSs, which outlines the rights of members. According to Clause-10(B), individuals eligible to purchase from the Employee House Building Society must be employees of the organization for which the society was established and have a minimum continuous or intermittent service of five years in Karnataka. However, following the allegations, she returned the land to the Karnataka State Judicial Department Employees House Building Co-operative Society (KSJDEHBCS) in 2011.
- Mallikarjun Kharge paid his respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi on October 26, 2022, before officially assuming the position of Congress President. He received the certificate of election from Madhusudan Mistry, the chairman of the party’s central election authority, during a ceremony at the AICC headquarters.
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