Bangalore: Indian National Congress Party (AICC) President, Rajya Sabha Member Mallikarjun Kharge celebrates his 81st birthday today on July 21. Many BJP and Congress leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi are greeting Kharge on his birthday.
Best wishes to Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji on his birthday. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life. @kharge
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 21, 2023
Born on July 21, 1942 to Mapanna Kharge and Sabavwara at Warvatti in Bhalki taluk of Bidar district, Mallikarjuna Kharge completed his schooling from New Vidyalaya, Gulbarga. Bachelor of Arts degree from Government Degree College Gulbarga and Law degree from Sheth Shankarlal Lahoti Law College.
A very happy birthday to Congress President, @Kharge Ji.
Your hard work and commitment is an inspiration to all of us. Wishing you much love and good health.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 21, 2023
He fought for labor unions early in his legal career, practicing law as a junior in Justice Shivraj Patil’s office.
He was elected as the general secretary of the student union while still studying for his graduation. Later he was the Vice President of the Student Union. Mallikarjuna Kharge, an LL.B. graduate, fought for labor rights as a legal adviser to MSK mill workers in Kalaburagi. Mallikarjuna Kharge, who had joined the Congress Party in 1969, served as the President of the City Congress Committee.
Political Life: Contested in 1972 and won from Gurmitkal constituency. In 1973, he was appointed as the Chairman of Municipal Octroi Abolition Committee in Karnataka State. In 1974, he was appointed as the chairman of the state-owned Leather Development Corporation. In 1976, he was appointed as the Minister of State for Primary Education, in 1978 he was elected as MLA for the second time from Gurimith constituency and was appointed as the Minister of State for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj in the Devaraj Aras Ministry.
In 1980 he became the Revenue Minister in Gundu Rao’s cabinet. In 1983, he was elected for the third time to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Gurmitkal. In 1985, he was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for the fourth time from Gurtkal. Appointed as Deputy Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
In 1989, he was elected for the fifth time to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Gurmitkal. In 1990, he joined Bangarappa’s cabinet as Minister for Revenue, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj.
In 2005, he was appointed as the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. In 2008 he was elected to the Chitpur Assembly for a record ninth consecutive term. Appointed Leader of Opposition for the second time in 2008.
In 2009, Kharg contested the general elections from the Gurbarga parliamentary constituency and won his tenth consecutive election. In the 2014 general elections, Kharge contested and won from the Gulbarga parliamentary seat, and was appointed as the leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha. Elected as National President of Indian National Congress in 2022.
