Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the Congress, was on Monday administered the oath as a re-elected member of the Rajya Sabha by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan in his chamber at the Parliament House. Kharge took oath in Hindi and was spotted clutching a copy of the Constitution during the oath-taking event.
Vice President Radhakrishnan praised Kharge, saying his considerable legislative experience will be an asset for the Upper House. The event was Kharge’s ceremonial re-entry into the Rajya Sabha after he was re-elected in the Council of States from Karnataka.
After taking oath, Kharge stated he would continue to promote the concerns, ambitions and voices of the people with sincerity and conviction. He stated that bringing the government to account will continue to be at the heart of his position in Parliament. Kharge highlighted his ongoing role as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha as a subject of “immense pride and responsibility” in a post on X.
He also complimented Vice President Radhakrishnan and Deputy Chairman Harivansh for their cooperation. He also thanked Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and party colleagues and workers in the same tweet for their support. Kharge also greeted leaders of various parties notably those from the INDIA bloc and expressed his eagerness for improved cooperation during the approaching Monsoon Session of Parliament to bring more accountability from the administration.
Among those present at the oath-taking ceremony was Congress Parliamentary Party chairman Sonia Gandhi and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Union ministers J P Nadda, Kiren Rijiju and Arjun Ram Meghwal were also present, apart from Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh.
Kharge was among seven newly elected MPs who took oath Monday along with BJP leader Tarun Chugh. The new members were Jitendra Meghjibhai Kanzariya and Mansingh Meraman Parmar of Gujarat, M Nagaraja of Karnataka, Rajendra Hiralal Jain of Maharashtra, Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi of Manipur and Alka Singh of Rajasthan.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Leader of the House J P Nadda, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal were present in the chairman’s chamber and in the House for the oath taking ceremony. Vice President Radhakrishnan greeted all the newly elected MPs and welcomed them to the Upper House.
Kharge’s return to the Rajya Sabha becomes significance at a politically sensitive moment when the Monsoon Session is anticipated to see fierce discussion on critical national issues. In his capacity as Leader of the Opposition, he is anticipated to play a key role in shaping the opposition’s floor strategy and holding the government to account in Parliament.
