Mallikarjun Kharge Birthday: Rare photos and interesting facts about the Congress president

Mallikarjun Kharge (File Photo)

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is a prominent member of the Indian National Congress (INC) party. Kharge born on July 21, 1942, in Karnataka, has had a long political career at both the state and national levels.

Kharge began his political career journey in the early 1970s when he joined the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).

In 1972, Mallikarjun Kharge was elected as a member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for the first time. In 1999, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Gulbarga constituency. He continued to represent Gulbarga in subsequent elections until 2019 when he lost to Dr. Umesh Jadhav of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Kharge's most important contribution has been his role as a champion for social justice and the empowerment of marginalized communities. He believes in the principles of social equality and has been a vocal critic of caste-based discrimination.

Kharge was appointed as the Minister of Railways in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2013. During his tenure, he focused on improving railway infrastructure, enhancing passenger amenities, and ensuring safety measures.

Let us check out a few rare photos from the past of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge which narrate his political career:

File Photo 2002: Karnataka state Chief Minister S M Krishna (R) speaks to journalists as state home minister Mallikarjun Kharge (L) looks on in Bangalore 26 August 2002 after the kidnapping of former state minister H. Nagappa by India's most wanted bandit M Veerappan (Pic/AFP)

File Photo 2002: Karnataka state Chief Minister S. M. Krishna (R), Water Resources Minister H.K.Patil (C) and state Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge (L) arrive for an emergency assembly session to discuss the Cauvery river water sharing crisis in Bangalore 24 September, 2002 (Pic/AFP)

File Photo 2010: Indian Labor Minister Mallikarjun Kharge (C) speaks during a press conference with other foreign labor ministers at the conclusion of the G20 Labor and Employment Minister's Meeting in Washington, DC, April 21, 2010 (Pic/AFP)

File Photo 2022: India's Congress party newly appointed president Mallikarjun Kharge (C) receives a garland from his supporters after addressing a press conference in New Delhi on October 19, 2022. Congress party appointed on October 19 an octogenarian ex-minister as its first president not from the Gandhi dynasty in 24 years in an effort to reverse its apparent steady decline into political oblivion. Kharge, 80, was elected by members to replace Sonia Gandhi as president of the once-mighty party that helped win India's independence 75 years ago (Pic/AFP)