A single question keeps resurfacing in Congress circles these days: at 83, is party president Mallikarjun Kharge still an asset to the organisation, or is he turning into a liability? The prolonged wrangling over who would be named Kerala's chief minister has sharpened that debate, and a section of the party is now airing its discomfort with his working style more openly than before.
The 'Strength or Burden' Debate
One bloc within the party believes Kharge's leadership is now weighing the organisation down rather than reinforcing it. That perception is feeding a parallel storyline — that the old warmth between him and the Gandhi family has faded, with speculation about a growing distance gathering pace.
The 'One Person, One Post' Complaint
According to TrendKia, some leaders are grumbling that Kharge himself is not living up to the 'one person, one post' principle. He holds the Congress president's chair while also serving as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Critics argue that when both the organisational reins and parliamentary politics rest in one pair of hands, there is simply no room left for emerging leaders to rise.
Allegations of Nepotism
TrendKia also reported that Kharge is facing charges of promoting dynastic politics. The most recent example being cited is his son Priyank Kharge, who has been handed the Home Minister's portfolio in Karnataka's DK Shivakumar government. Notably, Kharge himself was re-elected to Parliament at the age of 83, and the preference shown to his family and close aides is adding edge to the criticism.
Loyalists Favoured in Rajya Sabha Tickets
The resentment is not confined to the organisation alone. In the Rajya Sabha elections too, there is talk of Kharge's close associates being pushed forward. The decision to award a ticket to his aide Pranav Jha from Jharkhand drew open displeasure from several party leaders. And this is not the first such instance — earlier, his loyalist Neeraj Dangi was sent to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. This chain of decisions has hardened the belief that the man at the top is advancing only his trusted faces.
