A Parliamentarian’s Life of Grit, Grace and Greatness Revealed As India United to Celebrate Mallikarjun Kharge at 82
It was a rare and moving display of bipartisan respect in Indian politics as tributes poured in for INC President Mallikarjun Kharge on his 82nd birthday. Leaders across the political aisle honoured a life that has been steeped in service, struggle, and unflinching constitutional commitment.
Leading the wishes was Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha as a towering parliamentary presence and wished him a long and healthy life.
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| Image Source: INC India |
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called Kharge’s leadership and commitment to constitutional values “an inspiration to us all,” while reiterating his role as a guiding force within the party.
Pawan Khera called him “a source of guidance,” a sentiment that was also echoed by Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, who noted that Kharge’s presence “enriches our parliamentary democracy.”
Wishing our visionary leader, AICC President shri @kharge Ji good health, happiness, and many more years in the service of the Nation and people. pic.twitter.com/NGlwNnyhbD
— Revanth Reddy (@revanth_anumula) July 21, 2025
Kharge’s journey from the dusty lanes of Bidar to the floor of the Rajya Sabha has been one of quiet perseverance and political longevity. Born on July 21, 1942, in Varawatti, Karnataka, into a Dalit family, Kharge's life was marked early by tragedy when he lost his mother and sister in a fire set by Razakars in 1948 during the Hyderabad liberation movement.
Escaping death as a child, Kharge went on to earn degrees in Arts and Law, beginning his legal career advocating for labour unions--an early indication of his affinity for justice and equity.
From 1972 to 2009, he served as a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly across two constituencies and held key ministerial portfolios in successive state governments.
He led the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee from 2005 to 2008 and transitioned to national politics in 2009. As a Union Minister under the UPA government, Kharge helmed the Ministries of Labour and Employment and Railways.
Warm birthday wishes to AICC President and Karnataka's pride Shri @kharge avaru.
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) July 21, 2025
Over the years, I have witnessed your deep commitment to the people and to the ideals of the Congress Party. Your journey from the grassroots to national leadership is an inspiration to all of us… pic.twitter.com/WHeSuNVpgR
In 2020, he entered the Rajya Sabha and became Leader of the Opposition in 2021. His election as President of the Indian National Congress in 2022 marked a historic shift--the first non-Gandhi to lead the party in 24 years.
Under his stewardship, the Congress won 99 seats in the 2024 general election and reclaimed the status of morally justified official opposition after a decade.
Tributes from leaders like KC Venugopal, Siddaramaiah, Akhilesh Yadav, Aaditya Thackeray, Randeep Singh Surjewala, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra painted Kharge as not only a political figurehead but also a symbol of resilience and egalitarianism.
आज कांग्रेस के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष एवं राज्यसभा में नेता प्रतिपक्ष आदरणीय श्री मल्लिकार्जुन खड़गे जी को जन्मदिन की हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएं दीं।
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) July 21, 2025
ईश्वर से आपके दीर्घायु एवं सदैव स्वस्थ व प्रसन्न रहने की प्रार्थना है। pic.twitter.com/48V6X6A0Pd
Congress leaders from Telangana, including TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud and MP Vamshi Chand Reddy, highlighted how Kharge’s leadership continues to inspire workers across India, especially among marginalised communities.
Karnataka Congress leader Laxmi Hebbalkar and Punjab's Charanjit Singh Channi lauded him as a “stalwart” and “guiding light.”
Hon'ble Vice-President and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar extended birthday greetings to Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji, Hon'ble Leader of Opposition (Rajya Sabha) in Rajya Sabha today. #RajyaSabha @kharge pic.twitter.com/ef3cyrDLcw
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) July 21, 2025
DMK MP P. Wilson and former Union Minister Renuka Chowdhury emphasised his unwavering fidelity to the Constitution, while Kharge’s colleagues in Parliament recounted his grace, composure, and cross-party respect.
Today’s celebration, to the public eye, was a reflection on an extraordinary political arc--marked by steadfast service and devotion to the party.
Kharge’s journey is one of patient, persistent politics. And as his well-wishers made clear today, the nation still has much to learn from a man who never raised his voice to be heard but was always listened to.