Fight is against fascist forces; no one is big or small, all have to work together:Kharge

Mallikarjun Kharge says the Congress party has been strengthening democracy soon after he was announced president-elect of the party, a non-Gandhi chief after 24 years. He thanked Sonia and all workers while extolling everyone to work together.

New Delhi: Congress president-elect Mallikarjun Kharge said the party has been strengthening democracy and no one in the party is big or small and promised to emerge as a true party foot-soldier to strengthen the organisation in its fight against fascist forces, in his first media interaction since the presidential poll results have been announced.

"Congress has been working to strengthen democracy. By holding organisational elections, the Congress has shown the country how internal democracy is strong in the organisation," Kharge read from his drafted speech. Kharge refused to take any questions from the media and he assured that he would answer them in time.

"For me every Congress worker is equal and all have to work together to fight the fascists forces threatening democracy and the Constitution. No one is small or big and we have to all work like workers to strengthen the organisation. We have to together fight the threat to democracy and the Constitution. We have to fight the fascist forces... who are attacking democracy and the people of the country," Kharge said

"The forces wearing the garb of communalism should be assailed. All Congress workers feel that the country cannot be sacrificed for a dictator and we have to get together fight these destructive forces," he said. "We all have to work towards strengthening the Congress organisation," he said, adding that while referring to his recent the congratulatory conversation he had with the party's former president Rahul Gandhi.

The 80-year-old Dalit leader from Karnataka also appealed to all Congress workers and people of the country to join Rahul Gandhi in his Bharat Jodo Yatra which is a 'jan andolan' from Kanyakumari to Kashmir against price rise, unemployment and against those who are creating hatred and division in society.

Kharge also lauded Sonia Gandhi's leadership, saying "her tenure will be remembered for a long time". "I thank Sonia Gandhi ji who made personal sacrifice as she steered the party for 23 years," he said. Sonia Gandhi along with Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had visited Kharge's residence and congratulated him.

The veteran leader swept the polls Wednesday bagging 7,897 of 9,385 votes while his lone rival Shashi Tharoor polled 1,072 votes. Kharge also thanked all those participated in the election process and party's interim-chief Sonia Gandhi for the opportunity. Tharoor had earlier met Kharge at his residence and congratulated him on his victory.

Kharge will formally take over as the Congress president on October 26 from Sonia Gandhi who has been at the helm since Rahul Gandhi resigned after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. (with Agency inputs)