Kharge files nomination papers for Rajya Sabha polls from Karnataka
All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections in Bengaluru on Friday. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal and KPCC President BK Hariprasad are also present. | Photo Credit: Special Event
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All India Congress Committee President Mallikarjun Kharge filed his nomination papers for the Karnataka Rajya Sabha elections in the presence of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.
Mr. Kharge is seeking re-election to the Rajya Sabha. June 8 is the last day for filing nomination papers. The other two candidates of the party are Mansoor Ali Khan, son of former Union minister K. Rahman Khan, and party media and publicity wing chief Pawan Kher. The election will be held on June 18.
Elections would be held for four seats from the electoral college comprising MLAs and the Congress has sufficient numbers in the assembly to secure three seats.
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Mr. Kharge along with Mr. Gandhi arrived at Vidhana Soudha and submitted their nomination papers to Legislative Assembly Secretary MK Vishalakshi.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President BK Hariprasad accompanied Mr. Kharge and two party candidates.
Discussing the cabinet portfolio while driving
Mr. Shivakumar and Mr. Hariprasad were traveling in the same car as Mr. Gandhi and were said to have held discussions regarding the displeasure among ministers over the division of portfolios.
Eight-time MLA Ramalinga Reddy resigned from the Cabinet after being allotted the Water Resources portfolio, claiming that Mr. Shivakumar had promised him the Bengaluru Development portfolio, but Krishna Byre Gowda was eventually allotted.
KH Muniyappa was also not keen on being given the portfolio of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.
Kharge’s wealth will double in six years
Mr. Kharge’s fortune has almost doubled in six years. While the veteran leader had declared total assets of ₹20.12 crore during the 2020 Rajya Sabha elections, the assets appreciated by 92% to ₹38.65 crore, according to the affidavit he filed on Friday.
His total assets include ₹9.58 crore coming from a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF).
The affidavit filed along with his Rajya Sabha nomination papers shows that the assets in Mr Kharge’s name are ₹14.81 crore, of which movable assets are ₹6.51 crore and immovable assets are ₹8.3 crore. His wife Radha Bai Kharge has total assets of ₹14.26 crore, including ₹4.41 crore in movable assets and ₹9.85 crore in immovable assets.
Published – 05 Jun 2026 15:17 IST