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✋ @Sunrise: New Congress President But Old Politics

Nishtha AnushreeOct 20, 2022, 05:22 AM | Updated 05:22 AM IST
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Mallikarjun Kharge after being elected as Congress president met Sonia Gandhi

No surprise! Mallikarjun Kharge became the Congress president after defeating Shashi Tharoor in a one-sided contest.

  • Kharge received 7898 votes, while Tharoor was far behind with just 1072 votes.

  • This is not unexpected as most of the senior leaders were seen supporting Kharge with rumours brewing that he is the Gandhi family's chosen one.

  • Shashi Tharoor even alleged that the level-playing field was disturbed because many leaders didn't give him time to meet.

  • Power still with Gandhis? It should be noted that Rahul Gandhi, who is on Bharat Jodo Yatra, spilled the name of the new president hours before the official announcement.

    • During a press conference in Andhra Pradesh, Gandhi said, "President will decide my role in the party, please ask Kharge ji and Sonia Gandhi ji."

  • This suggests that the Gandhi family might have been well aware of the results beforehand.

  • Kharge is considered to be a staunch Gandhi family loyalist.

  • Democratic Congress? Since the announcement of the presidential elections, Congress leaders have been boasting about how democratic their party is.

    • Rahul Gandhi said, "We are the only political party in the country that holds elections."

  • However, it should be noted that the elections were held after 22 years.


  • A brief history of presidential elections: In its 137-year-old history, the Congress has witnessed six presidential elections.

    • The last elections were held in 2000 when Sonia Gandhi defeated Jitendra Prasad where he got a mere 94 votes.

  • The last non-Gandhi president was Sitaram Kesri who won elections in 1997 in a triangular contest against Sharad Pawar and Rajesh Pilot.

  • However, his exit is a black mark on the Congress party's history.

  • What will change: The Congress leaders are expressing hope for the party's revival under Kharge's leadership.

    • Rahul Gandhi said, "His vast experience and ideological commitment will serve the party well."

  • Kamal Nath said, "Under his able leadership the party will not only scale new heights, but it will also get strengthened further.”

  • Prithviraj Chavan expressed confidence that Kharge will renew the consultative process which existed in the party earlier.

  • However, if Kharge doesn't become the face of the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, these statements are merely rhetorics.


  • UNSC

    China has put a hold on a proposal by India and the US at the United Nations.

    • The proposal was to list Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Shahid Mahmood as a global terrorist.

  • This is the fourth instance in the past few months when Beijing was seen backing Pakistan-based terrorists at the world forum.


    • Then in August, China again put a hold on a proposal by the US and India to blacklist the senior leader of Pakistan-based terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) Abdul Rauf Azhar.

  • In September, Beijing put a hold on a proposal moved by the US and co-supported by India to designate LeT terrorist Sajid Mir, wanted for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks, as a global terrorist.


  • Himachal CM Jairam Thakur files nomination papers

    62 candidates were declared by the BJP for the polls to the 68-member Himachal Pradesh assembly.

    • The party has introduced new names in 11 seats. One of these seats include that of a cabinet minister.

  • The list features five women candidates, while opposition Congress has named three women among the 46 candidates it has announced so far.

  • CM Jai Ram Thakur will be contesting from his current constituency Saraj.


    • Bharadwaj has been fielded from Kasumpti instead of his current constituency Shimla Urban.

  • Nurpur MLA Pathania has been given a ticket from the neighbouring Fatehpur.

  • Minister Mahendra Singh, MLA from Dharampur, has been replaced by his son Rajat Thakur.


  • Nitin Gadkari in India’s first Flexi-Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle

    Hardeep Puri asked the Indian automobile industry to provide flexi-fuel vehicles at various price points quickly.

    • While the government has vowed comprehensive support for the sale of flexi-fuel vehicles, more options are needed to accelerate the adoption of blended fuel technology.

  • Puri cited the example of the launch of Japanese car maker Toyota's first-of-its-kind pilot project on flex-fuel - a strong hybrid electric vehicle (that you can see in the image above).


    • Puri assured of reaching the production goal of 1,000 crore litres five years beforehand.

  • Achieving E20 blending with petrol by 2025 would help India save foreign exchange by about Rs 30,000 crore per annum.


  • BCCI president Jay Shah

    PCB is active as Jay Shah said that India will play Asia Cup next year at a neutral venue and not tour Pakistan.

    • PCB requested the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to convene an emergency meeting on the issue.

  • However, it should be noted that Shah also happens to be the ACC president.

  • PCB said, "Such statements can spilt the Asian and international cricket communities."


    • The Asia Cup being held at neutral venues is not unprecedented.

  • The 2018 Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in India, was also moved to the UAE after the BCCI couldn't procure clearance from government security agencies to host Pakistan.


  • PM Modi at DefExpo2022 (Pic Via PIB)

    ‘Fourth Positive Indigenisation List’ of 101 defence items was announced by PM Modi at DefExpo 2022.

    • Highly complex systems, sensors, weapons and ammunition have been included in this list.

  • The list has been prepared by the Defence Ministry after several rounds of consultations with all stakeholders, including the industry.


    • The list recognises the growing capacity and capabilities of the Indian defence industry.

  • It is expected to stimulate the potential of domestic research and development by attracting fresh investment into technology and manufacturing capabilities.



  • Kantara is set to cross Rs 150 crore mark at the box office globally.

    • The Hindi version earned Rs 11.15 crore in five days, while the Telugu version earned Rs 16 crore in four days.

  • The low budget movie has already crossed Rs 100 crore mark.

  • What makes it special: The visual celebration of all things folk.


  • The movie maps the relationship between man and faith, man and his community, his ancestors, his environment, his land and his calling, his yearning and his nightmares.

  • You can read the review here.


  • Single brand Bharat for subsidised fertilisers

    'One Nation, One Fertiliser' scheme was launched on Tuesday by PM Modi.

    • The fertilisers in the country will be marketed under ‘Bharat’ brand name.

  • This means, there will be a uniform design of fertiliser bags across the country, labeled as BHARAT UREA, BHARAT DAP, BHARAT MOP and BHARAT NPK etc.


    • The cost of fertilisers will be reduced and their availability will increase.

  • It will clear the confusion caused to farmers by multiple brands, as all DAP fertiliser brands must have 18 per cent Nitrogen and 46 per cent Phosphorus.

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