New Delhi: It might not look like it from his stoic exterior however Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has a riotous sense of humour. That, alongside along with his open-door coverage and no-nonsense method, are among the many traits that assist Kharge (80) tide over rifts and conflicts throughout the get together, say those that work carefully with him.
As an illustration, a celebration chief as soon as complained to him about not getting an organisational place regardless of having labored onerous.
“He (Kharge) appeared straight on the chief and requested, ‘Why are you beating concerning the bush? Seedha seedha boliye, mehnat kare murgi aur anda khaaye fakir? (Be straight-forward, the hen places in all of the work and the fakir eats the egg?)’” mentioned a member of Kharge’s group.
He mentioned that with anecdotes like these, Kharge disarms the opposite individual and takes away the stress from such conditions.
“In actual fact, to the media, discussions just like the one to determine who will likely be chief minister in Karnataka or that for Rajasthan look like very nerve-racking, severe affairs. However in case you had been standing outdoors the door in each conferences, you’d hear peals of laughter every so often,” he added.
One other occasion was when some get together members in Karnataka refused to work for a specific candidate as a result of he was an import from the Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP). Kharge, in accordance with members of his group, advised them, “Aurat ka divorce honey ke baad jab dusri shaadi hoti hai tab woh uss ghar ki bahu bann jaati hai. (A girl, when she remarries after a divorce, turns into the daughter-in-law of that home.)”
Since he was elected get together president final October, Kharge has proven again and again that he believes in “consultative consensus” — from making certain the appointment of a chief minister in Karnataka with out a public spat to facilitating a “united” present of power in Rajasthan after a four-hour-long assembly. Kharge, say those that work with him, is an effective listener who doesn’t draw back from lengthy, tough conversations.
Whereas it’s nonetheless unclear if the tussle throughout the Rajasthan Congress is completed and dusted, Kharge’s dealing with of the federal government formation in Karnataka has earned reward from all quarters. Particularly since he had a private stake within the matter — Karnataka being his house state.
All through his political profession as a nine-time MLA and three-time state minister, Kharge misplaced out on the chief minister’s chair twice. As soon as, in 2013, to CM Siddaramaiah himself.
This time, it was not simply D.Okay. Shivakumar that Kharge needed to negotiate with. Others like Okay.H. Muniyappa, G. Parameshwara and M.B. Patil, too, fostered ambitions. However Kharge was capable of put his personal historical past with Siddaramaiah apart to endorse his appointment as chief minister whereas averting an overt riot throughout the get together’s state unit.
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‘Affected person & accessible’
In response to Kharge’s aides, If somebody approaches him complaining of injustice or with a grievance, he can relate simply since he might need skilled it himself.
“For instance, when the Karnataka CM was being determined, Kharge ji shared his personal expertise of lacking out on changing into CM twice. He identified that regardless of that, he has at all times been loyal to the get together and by no means went towards the Congress. As a substitute, he saved affected person. For somebody who has been denied one thing, he can communicate from a private standpoint,” mentioned an All India Congress Committee (AICC) member who works carefully with Kharge.
The AICC member added, “The individual being spoken to, thereafter, has nothing extra to say. If an 80-something man is saying he has reached the place he’s by being affected person, what can somebody of their 40s or 50s say?”
One other issue that works in Kharge’s favour, mentioned the group member quoted earlier, is his accessibility. Whereas entry to the Gandhis has at all times been restricted for atypical Congress employee, Kharge has opened his doorways to anybody in search of an viewers with him.
Each few weeks, he holds a session on the Congress headquarters in Delhi the place for about two-three hours, any employee or chief can meet him, even with out an appointment. “He meets about 100 Congress staff in a day. We don’t have a pendency checklist of individuals he wants to fulfill. Everyone who desires an appointment will get one, and that too, quickly,” mentioned a second member of his group.
Furthermore, Kharge has consciously ensured that he doesn’t venture himself as an influence centre parallel to the Gandhis. Moderately, the try is to be in sync in order that the Congress management comes throughout as one cohesive unit. His relationship with each Rahul and Sonia stays cordial and he believes in making them part of his consultative course of, say group members.
“He says that the previous Congress presidents, particularly Sonia ji, have run the get together for over 20 years. I’ll seek the advice of them as a result of they’ve expertise,” mentioned the AICC member quoted earlier.
Additional, Kharge’s stint as chief of the Opposition (LoP) within the Rajya Sabha makes him an appropriate veteran revered throughout get together traces, which is why he’s the chief negotiator in talks with different Opposition events.
Kharge ‘makes positive everyone is seen’
One other member of Kharge’s group pointed to an incident that occurred within the run-up to the closing ceremony of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar in January this 12 months.
For a dinner organised for senior Congress functionaries on the final day of the yatra, the Congress’s Jammu and Kashmir unit didn’t invite Salman Soz — the son of Congress chief Saifuddin Soz. Salman was the election agent for Shashi Tharoor, Kharge’s rival within the Congress presidential polls.
“When Kharge ji landed in Srinagar, leaders from the J&Okay Congress surrounded him and mentioned they didn’t wish to invite Soz. Kharge ji mentioned the motto of the Bharat Jodo Yatra was ‘nafrat chhodo’ (surrender hatred) and it needed to begin from throughout the get together. There was no dialogue after that. Soz was invited,” mentioned the second member of Kharge’s group.
The group member additionally spoke concerning the get together’s marketing campaign in Nagaland when Tharoor was named a star campaigner. When Kharge came upon that he and Tharoor had been going to Nagaland to marketing campaign on the identical day, the 2 flew collectively, he added.
“He (Kharge) actually takes care of his group and makes positive that everybody is complimented for the work they do. He’ll praise the final secretaries, he’ll praise the in-charge, coordinators and joint secretaries. He makes positive that everyone is seen.”
A second AICC functionary spoke about how Kharge himself makes use of the time period “excessive command” so much. “Someday, I requested him why he makes use of the time period when he himself is the excessive command. And he mentioned he was not. The excessive command is the CWC (Congress Working Committee) and now the Steering Committee. The excessive command is a group,” mentioned the functionary.
A member of Kharge’s group added that the Congress president is a “no-nonsense man”.
“As an illustration, even throughout the Rajasthan assembly, particular person calls for of every chief weren’t mentioned and so they had been requested level clean what they may do to make sure that the get together wins within the state. After that, he mentioned, the remainder is his accountability as soon as the get together involves energy,” he added.
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Foodie with an elephantine reminiscence
In response to his group, Kharge by no means eats alone. And it has been this manner for the previous 50 years. A foodie, he ensures that somebody joins him for all his meals, even when it’s the workers at house. “That reveals he’s a down-to-earth man. He loves meals and he believes that sharing a meal with somebody is the very best type of respect,” mentioned the primary group member.
Whereas Kharge is a non-vegetarian, he’s not allowed to eat meat at house since his spouse is a vegetarian. “Generally we inform him that he can seize a fast chunk when ma’am shouldn’t be at house. However he doesn’t try this. He says it’s his dedication and he gained’t cheat,” the second member added.
These round him additionally communicate of his elephantine reminiscence. When he reads books, he remembers verses and web page numbers. He even remembers the bibliography. “If I cite knowledge to him and inform him one thing completely different two weeks later, he’ll pull me up. He doesn’t take notes however remembers all the things,” mentioned Congress spokesperson Gurdeep Sappal.
Sappal, who is part of Kharge’s workplace, additionally mentioned that other than books, Kharge has a eager curiosity in sports activities and flicks. He tracks the Indian Premier League (IPL) carefully and likewise follows hockey. However that’s not all.
“As soon as, we had been discussing Pathaan and I advised him the movie had finished (enterprise of) Rs 300 crore until then. He retorted by saying that it was lower than KGF and Dangal. I used to be shocked. I didn’t suppose Kharge ji would learn about KGF,” mentioned Sappal.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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