Mallikarjun Kharge Sworn in as Rajya Sabha Member After Re-election

Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Indian National Congress, was sworn in as a member of the Rajya Sabha on Monday, 29 June 2026, following his re-election to the Upper House of Parliament. The oath-taking ceremony was presided over by C P Radhakrishnan, the Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, in his chamber at Parliament House.

During the ceremony, Kharge took his oath in Hindi while holding a copy of the Indian Constitution. C P Radhakrishnan congratulated him on his re-election and noted that the Rajya Sabha would benefit significantly from Kharge's extensive experience in parliamentary affairs.

After the oath, Kharge expressed gratitude towards senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, and Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He stated, "We will continue to raise the burning concerns, aspirations and voices of the people with sincerity, conviction and determination. That remains our foremost responsibility, and I shall discharge it with the utmost commitment."

Kharge also took the opportunity to thank his party colleagues and expressed appreciation for the support he had received from leaders in the INDIA bloc, a coalition of opposition parties. He underscored the importance of stronger cooperation during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to ensure greater accountability from the government.

In addition to Kharge, seven other newly elected members of the Rajya Sabha took their oaths during the ceremony. The new members included representatives from various states: Tarun Chugh from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with Mansingh Meraman Parmar, Jitendra Meghjibhai Kanzariya, Rajendra Hiralal Jain, M Nagaraja, Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi, and Alka Singh, who were elected from states including Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, and Rajasthan.

The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, as well as several Union ministers, were present at the oath-taking ceremony, reflecting the significance of this event in the Indian political landscape. Kharge’s reappointment as Leader of Opposition further highlights his central role within the parliamentary framework as he aims to address key issues affecting the populace.