Delhi, 4 June (H.S): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge spoke on the results of the Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday, stating that it was a clear mandate against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a political and moral defeat for him.

He addressed a press conference and stated that the BJP-led NDA was leading in over 290 seats while the opposition INDIA bloc was leading in 232 parliamentary seats. Kharge humbly accepted the people's mandate and declared it as a victory for the people and for democracy. He also mentioned how the Congress and INDIA bloc had faced adverse circumstances during the election campaign, with their bank accounts being seized and a campaign launched against their leaders.

Despite these challenges, they carried out a positive election campaign focusing on issues such as inflation, unemployment, farmers' and workers' distress, and misuse of constitutional institutions by the current government. Kharge also accused the BJP of arrogance and capturing constitutional institutions to create hurdles for the opposition. Overall, he emphasized that the people had clearly understood and rejected the lies spread by Prime Minister Modi and his party about the Congress manifesto.

Delhi, 25 May (H.S): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has urged people to cast their ballot in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Saturday and vote against the politics of hatred, rhetoric and distraction. He emphasized that in the last five phases, the "dictatorial forces" have been deeply shaken and this struggle to secure democracy and the Constitution has reached its final two phases.

Kharge urged the people to vote for unity, justice and important everyday issues, and to think carefully before pressing the button on EVMs if they want justice-based politics and economic and social security.

He also appealed to youngsters voting for the first time to exercise their franchise, stating that they can save India's democracy. Kharge reminded voters that this is the day when they can defeat unemployment, inflation, and secure reservation for marginalized communities. He concluded by saying that justice will begin from June 4 and called for a progressive and inclusive India.

New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS) Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday launched the party's online crowdfunding campaign 'Donate for desh' here and also donated Rs 1.38 lakh into the party’s account.

Congress treasurer Ajay Maken, senior party leaders K. C. Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh and several others were also present during the launch of the campaign at the residence of Kharge at 10 Rajaji Marg here.

Kharge himself donated Rs 1.38 lakh for the online funding campaign.

Launching the campaign, Kharge said, "if you just keep collecting money from the rich, then one will have to make policies and programmes according to their wishes. Our party has always been with the underprivileged, Dalits, adivasis, OBCs, minorities and upper castes. We want to help them."

The initiative is to build the country with the help of common people, he said.

The Congress leader also said that the campaign is a commitment to upholding the rights of marginalised communities, bridging inequalities and being a strong opposition to the authoritarian government that favors a select few in capitalism.

He said that this initiative is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's historic 'Tilak Swaraj Fund' in 1920-21.

"This is a nationwide movement to protect the values of the Indian Constitution and preserve the 138 year old glorious history of the Indian National Congress," Kharge said.

Maken said: "Our inaugural campaign 'Donate for Behtar Bharat', commemorates the 138-year journey of the Indian National Congress."

Maken also said that this is more than a campaign.

"It is a commitment to uphold the rights of marginalised communities, to bridge disparities, and to be a formidable opposition against a government favouring the affluent. We are fighting against unprecedented unemployment and rising inflation," he said.

"Embracing our history, we invite supporters to donate multiples of Rs 138 or Rs 1380 or Rs 13,800, or more, symbolising the party's enduring commitment to a better India," Maken said.

He said that two channels have been created for this online crowdfunding, one through the dedicated online portal: donateinc.in and second through the official Indian National Congress website: www.inc.in.

He said: "We encourage our state-level office bearers, our elected representatives, DCC Presidents, PCC Presidents, and AICC office bearers to contribute to the online crowd funding campaign.

The crowdfunding initiative has an online as well as offline component. With the party completing 138 years on December 28, it is asking supporters to donate in multiples of Rs 138 - for eg, Rs 138, Rs 1,380, Rs 13,800 or more – symbolising the party's enduring committment to a better India.

The party wants its state-level office bearers, elected representatives, district and state presidents and party office bearers to contribute at least Rs 1,380 each.

The campaign primarily will be online till December 28 after which a door-to-door campaign by volunteers, targeting at least ten houses in every booth for contributions of at least Rs 138, will be initiated.

New Delhi, May 16 (IANS) Karnataka Congress chief D.K. Shivakumar, who is vying for the CM's post, told party President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday that he took over the reins of the party in 2020 when no one was ready for the job, sources said.

During their meeting, Shivakumar, it is also learnt, told Kharge that if he himself becomes the Karnataka Chief Minister, then he would not have any opposition to it and will support him fully.

According to party sources, Shivakumar, who met Kharge for around 45 minutes, stressed that he took over the job as Congress chief in Karnataka when no one was ready to accept it, and he he delivered as per the expectation of the party leadership in the state.

The source further said that Shivakumar also said that when the party lost in 2018 under Siddaramaiah, he didn't oppose him.

It is further learnt that Shivakumar also pitched his candidature for the top post in the state but told Kharge if he is not given it, he will like to continue working as a MLA.

Shivakumar had arrived in the national capital on Tuesday afternoon. He had cancelled his trip to Delhi on Monday due to stomach infection.

Meanwhile, soon after Shivakumar left Kharge's residence, Siddaramaiah arrived there.

Party sources said that, however, no confirmation for the Chief Ministerial post has been given to Shivakumar by Kharge.

The source also said that announcement on new Chief Minister will be done on Wednesday in Bengaluru.

Meeting of both the leaders with Kharge comes hours after Rahul Gandhi, party General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala held a long discussion with the party chief to decide on the new Karnataka Chief Minister. The meeting of the senior Congress leaders lasted for over one and half hours.

On Monday night, party sources had said that the Congress chief will decide on the next CM after discussing the result of the secret ballot voting with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former party chief Rahul Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi is currently in Shimla.

All the three observers for Karnataka had submitted their report to Kharge on Monday and the meeting of the party leaders lasted for over 5 hours.

Sources said that despite Siddaramaiah getting the majority, Shivakumar is not willing to budge. He is claiming that he had delivered the victory to the party and hence deserved the Chief Minister's post.

New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) With crucial meeting of CLP in Karnataka scheduled on Sunday evening, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has deputed former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and two other party leaders as observers for the election of CLP in the southern state.

K.C. Venugopal, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) took to Twitter and wrote, "Congress President has deputed Sushil kumar Shinde (Former Chief Minister, Maharashtra), Jitendra Singh (AICC GS) and Deepak Babaria (former AICC GS) as observers for the election of the CLP Leader of Karnataka."

Meanwhile, Kharge, who had camped in Karnataka for almost a month for the crucial Assembly polls is returning to the national capital ahead of the CLP meeting scheduled later in the evening at Shangrila Hotel in Bengaluru.

The Congress is facing a daunting task in selecting the person for the chief minister's post as both senior leaders -- former CM Siddaramaiah and state unit chief D.K. Shivakumar -- have shown interest for the top post in the state.

The Congress had won 135 seats in the southern state, winning 55 more seats than 80 it got in the 2017 Assembly polls.

Counting of votes took place on Saturday after the polling for the 224-member Assembly took place on May 10.

New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) Amid talks of opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress, JD(U) and RJD leaders met here on Wednesday.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with his deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in the presence of Rahul Gandhi.

The meeting took place at Kharge's residence.

After the meeting, the four addressed the media jointly.

Kharge said that they will reach out to like-minded parties. "We have decided to unite all opposition parties and fight the election unitedlly."

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, "We will reach out to as many political parties and move forward together."

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said, "This is a battle of ideologies and it is a historic step towards the 2024 fight."

The meeting comes after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took the first step to unite the opposition parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Kharge has made phone calls to leaders of various like-minded opposition parties, including M.K. Stalin, Nitish Kumar and Uddhav Thackeray.

Kharge has invited these leaders for an opposition meet in Delhi next month to formalise a common agenda.

Sources said that the leaders interacted on the opposition unity and future strategy to challenge the BJP in the country.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, on several occasions has been saying that he is waiting for the Congress to take the initiative of getting the opposition together.

New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Thursday that they will appeal in higher courts against the conviction of Rahil Gandhi.

In a tweet (in Hindi) he said, "Coward, dictator BJP government is rattled by Rahul Gandhi and the opposition because we are exposing their bad deeds by demanding JPC. Modi government has gone politically bankrupt. It sends ED, police and lodges cases against speeches.

"We will appeal in higher courts."

Surat district court in Gujarat on Thursday convicted Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case against him over his alleged 'Modi surname' remark in 2019.

The Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate H.H. Varma sentenced him to two years in jail and also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 after finding him guilty.

However, on Rahul Gandhi's plea, his sentence has been suspended and bail has been granted to enable him to move an appeal against his conviction within 30 days.

BJP MLA and former Gujarat Minister Purnesh Modi had filed the case against Rahul Gandhi for his alleged "how come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname...?" remark.

Raipur, Feb 25 (IANS) Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said it's time to reach out to like-minded parties which are opposed to BJP and form a UPA-like alliance.

While delivering his presidential address at the ongoing 85th Congress plenary, Kharge said, "The Congress is ready to take along all the parties which are opposed to BJP".

He said in the past, many political parties were with the UPA and Manmohan Singh led the government honestly. However, there was a big conspiracy against the government.

This comes as a message to the parties which were part of the UPA government but are now unwilling to give Congress a lead role in the alliance now.

The Congress is trying to strike a balance between the political parties which are opposed to the idea of Congress leading the alliance.

Asserting that the BJP will not attain a majority, Kharge said: "Congress will lead, and we will get the majority. We will follow the Constitution and democracy."

The Congress is likely to set up an alliance committee to reach out to other opposition parties, and this could be discussed during the party's plenary session in Raipur.

Sources have said that the Congress wants to build up a national alliance, but with the precondition of leading it. There are many like-minded parties who have no problem with Congress being the leading party in the alliance, but leaders like Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, Trinamool Congress with Aam Aadmi Party are towing a different line.