Mallikarjun Kharge is the new president of the Indian National Congress. Kharge, 80, replaces Sonia Gandhi as the party chief. The veteran leader from Karnataka won 7,897 votes in the elections while his competitor Shashi Tharoor, a UN diplomat-turned-politician won 1,072. 

Mallikarjun Kharge’s age: 

Mallikarjun Kharge was born on 21 July 1942. He is currently 80 years old. 

Mallikarjun Kharge’s family: 

Mallikarjun Kharge was born to Mapanna Kharge and Sabavva in the Bhalki Taluk, Bidar district, Karnataka. Kharge married Radhabai on 13 May 1968 and has two daughters and three sons. 

His sons are Milind, Rahul and Priyank Kharge. Rahul works as an advisor in an IT company and Priyank is an Indian politician. His daughters are Priyadarshini and Jayashree Kharge. Priyadarshini is a doctor. In 2006, Kharge disclosed in an interview that he follows Buddhism. 

Also Read: Mallikarjun Kharge vs Shashi Tharoor in Congress president polls: A cheat-sheet

Kharge’s career: 

Kharge began his political career as a student union leader at Gulbarga’s Government College, where he was elected General Secretary of the student’s body. In 1969, he was appointed legal counsel to the MSK Mills Employees’ Union. He was also a powerful labour union leader of Samyukta Majdoor Sangha, leading many agitations for workers’ rights. He joined the Indian National Congress in 1969 and was elected as the President of the Gulbarga City Congress Committee.

He served as a minister in all subsequent Congress governments including the Gundu Rao Ministry in 1980, the S Bangarappa Cabinet in 1990, and the M Veerappa Moily government from 1992 to 1994. He served as Leader of the Opposition from 1996-99 and 2008-09, and as President of the State Congress from 2005-08, before transitioning to national politics in 2009, when he was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time.

Also Read: Shashi Tharoor: Age, wives, family, career, net worth

The veteran was then drafted into Manmohan Singh’s Cabinet, first as Labour Minister and then as Railways and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister.

In 2019, when Kharge was defeated for the first time in his electoral career, the party rewarded the devoted veteran by electing him to the Rajya Sabha. In recognition of his abilities, he was appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House in February 2021.

Kharge’s net worth:

Kharge’s net worth is estimated to be around Rs. 10.98 crore.