Kharge Reflects on Missed Opportunity for Karnataka CM Post in 1999

Veteran Congress leader says his efforts as CLP leader were overlooked

Bangalore Mail Team | Vijayapura – Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has shared his long-standing disappointment over not being chosen as Karnataka’s Chief Minister in 1999, despite his significant role in leading the party’s legislative unit for several years.

Speaking at an event in Vijayapura on Sunday, Kharge recalled how he had steered the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) for five years, putting in sustained efforts to help the party return to power in the state. However, following the Assembly elections that year, it was S.M. Krishna—who had joined the Congress only months prior—who was selected to helm the government.

“I led the CLP, worked day and night to bring Congress back to power. But once we succeeded, someone who had only recently joined became the Chief Minister,” Kharge said, visibly alluding to his disappointment. “At the time, it felt like all our hard work was ignored.”

While refraining from naming other instances, Kharge noted that similar experiences had occurred more than once during his political journey, suggesting a pattern of being overlooked despite his dedication to the party.

In 1999, the Congress secured a majority in the Karnataka Assembly by winning 132 out of 224 seats. S.M. Krishna was subsequently appointed the 16th Chief Minister of the state. Kharge, meanwhile, continued to serve in various ministerial roles within successive Congress governments in Karnataka before transitioning to national politics in 2009.

From State Politics to National Leadership

After moving to the Lok Sabha, Kharge held key portfolios including Labour and Employment, Railways, and Social Justice & Empowerment. His prominence in national politics grew steadily, culminating in his election as Congress President in 2022.

In a contest marked by internal party democracy, Kharge defeated Shashi Tharoor with a significant margin, securing 7,987 votes to Tharoor’s 1,072. With this, he became the first non-Gandhi to lead the party in over two decades.

Under his leadership, the Congress made modest gains in the 2024 general elections, improving its Lok Sabha tally to 99—nearly 50 seats more than in 2019. However, the party faced electoral setbacks in several key states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.