Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was on Monday sworn in as a member of the Rajya Sabha after being re-elected to the Upper House, marking the continuation of his long parliamentary career. The oath of office was administered by Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan in his chamber at Parliament House in New Delhi. Kharge took the oath in Hindi and was seen holding a copy of the Constitution during the brief ceremony.

Vice President Radhakrishnan congratulated Kharge after the swearing-in and noted that the Upper House would benefit from his extensive legislative experience. The ceremony underscored Kharge’s continued presence in the Rajya Sabha, where he also serves as Leader of the Opposition, a position he has held through key parliamentary sessions in recent years. Following the oath-taking, Kharge said he would continue to raise the concerns, aspirations, and voices of the people with sincerity and conviction.

He emphasised that holding the government accountable and ensuring effective parliamentary debate would remain central to his responsibilities in the Upper House. The ceremony was attended by several senior political leaders from both the ruling and opposition benches. Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were present, along with Union ministers J P Nadda, Kiren Rijiju, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh.

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Their presence reflected the cross-party significance of the occasion within Parliament. The Vice President’s office also confirmed the development in a post on social media platform X, sharing photographs of the oath-taking ceremony and noting Kharge’s re-election as a member from Karnataka to the Council of States. The post highlighted the formal proceedings conducted within Parliament House. Kharge also shared a message on X expressing gratitude for the opportunity to continue serving as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, describing it as a responsibility of “immense pride and significance.”

He thanked Vice President Radhakrishnan and Deputy Chairman Harivansh for their support, and acknowledged Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with party colleagues and workers. He further extended appreciation to leaders across party lines, including members of the INDIA bloc, and said he looked forward to greater coordination during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. He emphasised the need for stronger parliamentary engagement and accountability from the government, signalling an active opposition role in the legislative process ahead.

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