A staunch loyalist of the Nehru-Gandhi family and veteran Congress leader, who is also Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjiun Kharge officially entered the race to become the next All India Congress Committee (AICC) president on Friday.
Opposition unity
Filing of nomination papers by senior party leader Mr Kharge assumed significance in many ways. A vocal critic of the Narendra Modi-led government, he has been ardently espousing the need for unity of non-BJP parties “to save democracy and the Constitution”, which could gain traction ahead of the crucial 2024 general elections.