Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took the oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha in New Delhi on June 12, 2026 [3].
The swearing-in ensures the opposition leader maintains a formal legislative platform to challenge government policy in the upper house of India's Parliament.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, serving as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, administered the oath to Kharge [4]. The ceremony took place within the Rajya Sabha chamber at Parliament House [2].
Kharge was re-elected to the seat representing Karnataka [5]. He was among a group of 24 candidates who were elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha during this cycle [1]. Specifically, four candidates were elected from Karnataka in this round of selections [2].
Because Kharge was elected unopposed, he did not face a contested vote for his seat [5]. This process allows seasoned political leaders to return to the legislature without the need for a formal ballot when no opposing candidates file nominations.
Kharge's return to the chamber follows a period of legislative restructuring. His presence as both the party president and a member of the upper house allows the Congress party to coordinate its parliamentary strategy directly from the floor of the house.
“Mallikarjun Kharge took the oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha in New Delhi on June 12, 2026.”
The unopposed election of Mallikarjun Kharge reflects the established dominance of certain party blocs in state-level representation for the Rajya Sabha. By securing a seat from Karnataka, the Congress president maintains a direct legal and procedural role in the legislative process, ensuring the party's leadership remains embedded in the formal mechanisms of the Indian government.
