Extracts of the speech of AICC General Secretary, Shri K.C. Venugopal at AICC Hdqrs on October 26, 2022.

Shri K.C. Venugopal said- Respected Congress President, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji, outgoing President Madam, Sonia Gandhi Ji, former Congress President, Shri Rahul Gandhi, Central Election Authority Chairman, Madhusudan Mistry Ji, Jothimani Ji, Rajesh Mishra Ji and Lovely Ji, senior CWC members, other senior colleagues, brothers and sisters, friends from the media, very good morning to all of you.

First of all, I would like to welcome all of you in this proud-full occasion of Indian National Congress. Through an exemplary process of internal democracy, our party has chosen our National President. Every political Party speaks about internal democracy. Instead of speaking, Congress Party has shown real internal democracy through this process. With humble voice, I would like to felicitate and welcome our new President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji on this occasion.

We all know Kharge Ji, where he begun and where he is now. During the last 50 years of long political journey, through his tireless work, Kharge Ji strengthened our Party. His experience and wisdom is really a guiding path these days for our Party.

We know he started his career as a student Leader in Gulbarga. 9-time MLA of Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Minister with various portfolios, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Minister in the Union Cabinet, Leader of the Party in the Lok Sabha and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha; in all these various capacities, Kharge Ji has shown his real commitment towards the ideology of Indian National Congress.

As an organisation man, he was the PCC President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, General Secretary of All-India Congress Committee. Even in that way, he proved his organizational skills for the betterment of Party.

We are very sure, under the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge Ji, Congress Party will get strengthened and definitely, we will move forward within months and years. His social commitment and progressive thinking will definitely give us strong way forward for our political ideology. Dear Kharge Ji, on behalf of all of us, I am sincerely welcoming again in this august function.

There are no words to say about our Madam Sonia Gandhi Ji. You may ask each and every worker of the Congress Party in this country, you can see that there is a place in their heart for Madam Sonia Gandhi. Her passion, dedication, sincerity, hardworking nature, there is no match to these qualities of hers. Even if there is a small programme, whether it is a small programme, or a big programme, Madam will never sleep, Madam will not allow us to sleep also.

I don’t want to say much more about Madam, because, we are already putting forward a statement of gratitude on Madam’s behalf, but, Madam, we may miss you as a Congress President, but, we will never miss you as a guiding light for the Party’s future and its work. On behalf of all of you, I sincerely welcome Madam Sonia Gandhi to this august function.

Our leader Shri Rahul Gandhi is here, last 50 days, he has been walking from Kanyakumari on the way to Kashmir, but you have little bit changed today-beard has become bigger, hair is also longer. You people know, we know that for the last 8-10 days, our principal opponents have only one agenda to demolish the real face of Shri Rahul Gandhi. I am very happy to say that through this journey, people of India are now realising the real face of Shri Rahul Gandhi themselves. The people of India are now demolishing the lie machines of our opponents - that is what we are witnessing through this yatra.

Three days before, we were in Raichur, then Telangana; lakhs of people, they are taking Shri Rahul Gandhi in their hearts. I sincerely welcome Shri Rahul Gandhi in this function. Our Election Authority Chairman is here. In a transparent manner, he conducted the Organisational Election for the Party. I am sincerely thanking Madhusudan Mistry Ji and all his team members to this dais and once again, I am welcoming all of you. We will move forward under the able leadership of Shri Mallikarjun Kharge for the strengthening of the Party. Jai Hind!