Mallikarjun Kharge's prez vision draws from Congress's Udaipur declaration

Congress presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge has come out with an appeal to the delegates and has brought out a manifesto which promises a commitment to implement the Udaipur Declaration dictum, including reserving 50% of the party posts for those in the below-50 years bracket. The most likely next Congress president, unlike his rival candidate Shashi Tharoor, steered clear of any explicit commitment to hold elections to the dozen electable berths in the Congress Working Committee or about reviving the Congress Parliamentary Board. Incidentally, the 'Udaipur Sankalp' is supposed to be binding on the Congress leadership at all levels, with or without individual reiteration.

Facing an opponent like Tharoor, who has a very high personal profile, eloquence and social media stardom, Kharge's appeal also slipped in a couple of sentences that appeared subtly aiming at making up for his comparatively lower individual profile. "I don't believe in marketing myself. That is not who I am or have ever wished to be. I will let my legislative record, administrative accomplishments and, most of all, my steadfast commitment to the Congress party, its legacy and ideology speak for itself," he said while detailing his Parliamentary, administrative and organisational career.

"This election is not about 'me' but 'we'. It is only teamwork that can take our party forward," said another line.


Kharge showered praise on Rahul Gandhi for his Bharat Jodo Yatra and said it has enthused the workers and helped the party reach out to the masses in confronting the RSS-BJP. He, characteristically, made no mention of his Dalit caste. Kharge made a claim that "no other political party" provided opportunities for an "ordinary worker like me -the son of a common man born in a remote village and a backward region of Karnataka to one day aspire to lead this historic party".

"I will focus on strengthening the party machinery and all pending appointments will be made immediately," he said and stressed on organisational reinforcement in the election states. Promising to give workers a say in key appointments, Kharge said, "Party loyalists will be given preference in all important positions." If he walks the talk, Kharge will have to reverse the trend of Rahul Gandhi foisting many 'Congress converts' into key posts. He promised "reimagining and realigning the vision, mission and hierarchy of all frontal organisations and preparing a smooth transition and progression into INC".