Mallikarjun Kharge, newly elected president of the Congress party, India's main opposition party, raises his hand with party colleague Shashi Tharoor at Kharge’s residence in New Delhi, India, October 19, 2022. REUTERS/Altaf HussainIndia's opposition Congress party on Wednesday declared veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge its new chief, the first person from outside the influential Nehru-Gandhi family to hold the beleaguered party's presidency in 24 years. The 137-year-old Congress, which helped win India's independence from colonial power Britain and then dominated politics for decades, has long championed a secular polity. Rahul Gandhi, speaking shortly before the party election result was announced, told reporters the new leader would call the shots. "The Congress president is the supreme authority in the Congress party ... Every member reports to them."

Source: The Express Tribune October 19, 2022 23:57 UTC