Slowly clearing out what many consider “dead wood”, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday appointed 75-year-old Mallikarjun Kharge as the party’s general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra, replacing 68-year-old Mohan Prakash.
Mr. Kharge’s appointment has come as a surprise for many in the party since he already holds two key positions. He is leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha and also the Chairman of Public Accounts Committee. His appointment has started speculation on whether Congress will be replacing him as leader of the party in Lok Sabha.
A question many Congress leaders are pondering over is whether Mr. Gandhi will take the reins in his hands. “That was my first thought too. However, he [Mr. Gandhi] has not spent much time in Parliament. And Leader of House is a position where you have to be present each day, be attentive, stand and fight for the party. Will he want to immerse himself in hot water?” said a senior Congress leader.
Maharashtra is an “extra-ordinarily” crucial State since it sends 48 MPs to the Lok Sabha, second only to Uttar Pradesh (80 seats).
“It is a calculated step. [We needed] a person with some political heft and experience,” a State leader said. It also helps that Mr. Kharge speaks Marathi and has handled the State in the past.
“I thank Sonia Gandhi ji, Rahul Gandhi ji for giving me the opportunity. I also thank people of Maharashtra and State unit for their cooperation and love,” Mr. Prakash said