Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 24: Congress party is experiencing winds of change as the demand for a more effective national leadership is gaining ground. With Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi showing reluctance to head the party, the next national president of the party may not be a scion of the Gandhi family.

One of the names being discussed to take over the mantle from the interim chief of the party, Sonia Gandhi, is that of Mallikarjun Kharge, veteran Congress leader from Karnataka. Kharge was elected as MP twice and had also functioned as the leader of the Congress parliamentary party in the Lok Sabha for one term. He had spearheaded a spirited attack against the Narendra Modi-led central government in that capacity.

Mallikarjun Kharge

The party's executive being held on Monday is expected to discuss the issue of change of leadership. Names of leaders whose names are making the rounds include Sushil Kumar Shinde, Shashi Tharoor, Mukukl Wasnik, and Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot.

It is said that Sonia Gandhi has a good opinion about Kharge's loyalty to the party and Gandhi family. Kharge had won the confidence of the party leaders by his style of functioning in the Lok Sabha as the leader of the parliamentary party. When his name was earlier suggested for the national president's post, Kharge had politely declined the offer, saying that he might find it hard to undertake tours because of his advanced age. However, if pressure is built, he is likely to accept the responsibility.