When BJP Asks 'Modi Vs Who', The Answer Is 'Modi Vs Common Man'

A veteran of many poll battles, Mallikarjun Kharge is facing his toughest challenge since he became Congress president in October 2022.

- SONI MISHRA, MIDHUN M. KURIAKOSE AND V.S. JAYASCHANDRAN

The 81-year-old is leading not just the grand old party’s campaign for the Lok Sabha polls, but also helming the opposition INDIA bloc’s fight against the formidable BJP.

THE WEEK caught up with Kharge as he took a breather on the occasion of Ugadi, the New Year’s Day for Kannadigas, at his family home ‘Samyak’ in Bengaluru. Described by a close aide of Kharge as his “recharge zone”, Samyak is where he loves to be in the midst of his children and grandchildren. After the quick break, Kharge would be off to Delhi to resume the hectic election campaign. He and Rahul Gandhi are the Team Congress’s lead pair in the poll arena.

In a detailed interview, Kharge was at his combative best as he took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP on a range of issues—from election guarantees, the Ram Temple, the PM’s intense focus on southern states and his attacks on opposition leaders on the issue of corruption, to electoral bonds and the income tax department’s action against the Congress. He also spoke about the sudden exit of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar from the INDIA bloc, the refusal of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to ally with the Congress, and the alleged tokenism that the Modi government displayed while nominating a dalit, and then an adivasi, to the country’s top constitutional post. Excerpts:

Q/ What is the significance of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls?