1. Mallikarjun Kharge has been a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from Karnataka since 2020.
16 Facts About Mallikarjun Kharge
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Mallikarjun Kharge began his career in state politics, serving as a member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Gurmitkal Assembly constituency from 1972 to 2008 and from Chittapur Assembly constituency from 2008 to 2009.
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Mallikarjun Kharge joined national politics when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Gulbarga, Karnataka, serving from 2009 to 2019.
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Mallikarjun Kharge was a general secretary of the All India Congress Committee, incharge for Maharashtra, from 2018 to 2020.
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Mallikarjun Kharge was the chairperson of Public Accounts Committee in 16th Lok Sabha from 2016 to 2019.
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Mallikarjun Kharge was born on 21 July 1942 in the Varawatti, Bhalki Taluk, Bidar district, Karnataka in a Dalit family to Saibavva and Mapanna Kharge.
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In 1948, Mallikarjun Kharge lost his mother and sister in a fire set off by the Razakars of the Nizam of Hyderabad, while he himself had a narrow escape at the age of 7.
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Mallikarjun Kharge began his political career in state politics, being elected as the MLA for Gurmitkal Assembly constituency and Chittapur Assembly constituency consecutively from 1972 to 2008.
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In opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge served as the leader of the opposition on two occasions and led the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee into the 2008 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election as KPCC president, gaining 15 seats for the party and finishing second.
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Mallikarjun Kharge resigned from the legislature in 2009 to run for the Lok Sabha.
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Mallikarjun Kharge was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 2009 the general election from Gulbarga.
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On 12 June 2020 Mallikarjun Kharge was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, at the age of 78 years.
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On 12 February 2021, Mallikarjun Kharge was appointed Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha.
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Mallikarjun Kharge notably has been appointed an observer by the INC for multiple states in the past, including Assam in 2014, Punjab in 2021, and Rajasthan in 2022.
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Mallikarjun Kharge's name was proposed as the prime ministerial candidate of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance for the 2024 general election.
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Mallikarjun Kharge married Radhabai on 13 May 1968; they have 2 daughters and 3 sons.