'It's an emotional moment...': Cong prez Mallikarjun Kharge thanks party workers

New AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge: The newly elected president of the Indian National Congress Mallikarjun Kharge took charge of the post on Wednesday (October 26) at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi.

New Delhi: The newly elected president of the Indian National Congress Mallikarjun Kharge took charge of the post on Wednesday (October 26) at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi. All Congress Working Committee members, MPs, Pradesh Congress Committee presidents, CLP leaders, former CMs, former State presidents, and other AICC office bearers were invited to the programme. The invitation was sent to all the above stakeholders by the General Secretary organisation KC Venugopal. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday said that he would also be presented at the event. 

Kharge beat his opponent Shashi Tharoor by a huge margin in the race to the party`s top post, thus becoming the first non-Gandhi to take over the office after 24 years. Kharge got 7,897 votes in the presidential contest while his opponent Tharoor received 1,072 votes in the voting held on October 17. 

He also congratulated Tharoor and said that they discussed methods to take the party forward. Tharoor had visited Kharge`s residence to congratulate him on his victory."I want to congratulate my partner Shashi Tharoor as well. 

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26 October 2022

15:31 IST

Mallikarjun Kharge gets emotional

"It's an emotional moment...," Mallikarjun Kharge thanks party workers for electing him Congress President. 

13:06 IST

Kharge to choose his new Congress team

All the members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), general secretaries and in-charges tendered their resignations after the newly party president Mallikarjun Kharge officially took charge as the Congress president on Wednesday. 

"All the CWC Members, AICC General Secretaries and Incharges have tendered their resignation to Congress President," tweets Congress MP KC Venugopal

Mallikarjun Kharge today took charge as Congress president pic.twitter.com/9kvAEP8aHb

— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2022

The new President will announce his new team while the CWC election will take place to elect 12 members.

12:29 IST

New Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's Speech

Veteran Congress leader Kharge in his address said, "I know it is a difficult time, efforts being made to change democracy established by Congress." He said, "Congress will break circle of lies, hatred prevailing; appeal to people not aligned with party but want to save democracy to join hands".

Kharge also hailed Rahul Gandhi for embarking on the Bharat Jodo Yatra and said that his yatra is filling country with new energy.

Targeting the BJP govt, Kharge said, "In New India, hunger, pollution is increasing but Rupee is falling. Govt is sleeping but CBI, ED, and IT are working 24 hours. In new India, Godse is called a patriot & Mahatma Gandhi is an anti-national. They want to bring constitution of RSS".

In New India, hunger, pollution is increasing but Rupee is falling. Govt is sleeping but CBI, ED, and IT are working 24 hours. In new India, Godse is called a patriot & Mahatma Gandhi is an anti-national. They want to bring constitution of RSS: Congress Pres Mallikarjun Kharge pic.twitter.com/u5MvGYD7wc

— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2022

"To make a new India, they want Congress-free India as they know that as long as Congress is there, they can't do it. We will not let it happen and will continue to fight against it," Newly elected Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

12:05 IST

Former President Sonia Gandhi addressed the event

Former party president Sonia Gandhi while adressing the ceremony congratulated Mallikarjun Kharge. She said" I congratulate newly elected president Kharge Ji from the bottom of my heart". She expressed gratitude for the vote of thanks given by all the Congress leaders to her.

Delhi | I extend my heartiest congratulations to the newly elected president Mallikarjun Kharge. Change is the rule of the world... Congress had faced a lot of difficulties earlier as well. But I'm sure we will overcome the problems: Outgoing Congress president Sonia Gandhi pic.twitter.com/5xphHp3klD

— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2022

Gandhi said, “I am grateful for holding this respected post and attempted to fulfill the responsibilites to the best of my abilities. I am relieved from this post today and I am naturally feeling relieved."

She said, "Change is the rule of the world, Congress had faced a lot of difficulties earlier as well. But I'm sure we will overcome the problems".

11:11 IST

Mallikarjun Kharge officially takes charge as Congress President

Mallikarjun Kharge has officially taken over the AICC president's post after he received the certificate of election as the Congress president by the party's central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry.

LIVE: Presentation of certificate of election to the newly elected Congress President Shri @kharge at AICC HQ. #CongressPresidentKharge https://t.co/8GeOvUSzaf

— Congress (@INCIndia) October 26, 2022

10:50 IST

Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka reach AICC headquarters 

Former party president Sonia Gandhi, MP Rahul Gandhi and party's General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reached AICC headquarters in Delhi for Mallikarjun Kharge's coronation.

Congress President-elect Mallikarjun Kharge, former party president Sonia Gandhi, MP Rahul Gandhi and party's General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reach AICC headquarters in Delhi

Kharge to take charge as national president of the Congress party shortly. pic.twitter.com/mIjXg7R04g

— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2022

09:10 IST

Ashok Gehlot calls Kharge's tenure as AICC prez 'a new beginning'

Rajasthan CM and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said that he will work along with Mallikarjun Kharge to strengthen the party. "Till the last minute, efforts were made to make Rahul Gandhi the party president as only he can challenge Modi and govt. Today is a new beginning. We congratulate Mallikarjun Kharge Ji and will work to strengthen the party" Gehlot said.

Delhi | Till the last minute, efforts were made to make Rahul Gandhi the party president as only he can challenge Modi and govt. Today is a new beginning. We congratulate Mallikarjun Kharge Ji and will work to strengthen the party: Rajasthan CM and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot pic.twitter.com/Yz4V0ONfQC

— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2022

08:19 IST

Kharge pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi

Congress President-elect Mallikarjun Kharge pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat Kharge will today take the charge as national president of the Congress party.

Delhi | Congress President-elect Mallikarjun Kharge pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

Kharge will today take the charge as national president of the Congress party. pic.twitter.com/nq8MT5KJHD

— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2022

07:44 IST

Rahul Gandhi will be attending President-elect Mallikarjun Kharge's coronation as Congress chief on Wednesday while the Bharat Jodo Yatra has taken a Diwali break.

07:43 IST

All Congress Working Committee members, MPs, Pradesh Congress Committee presidents, CLP leaders, former CMs, former State presidents, and other AICC office bearers are invited to the programme. The invitation has been sent to all the above stakeholders by the General Secretary organisation KC Venugopal. 

07:39 IST

Mallikarjun Kharge to take charge as AICC Prez

The newly elected president of the Indian National Congress Mallikarjun Kharge will take charge of the post on Wednesday at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi.