India's Congress elects first non-Gandhi chief in 24 years

Mallikarjun Kharge, newly elected president of the Congress party, India's main opposition party, raises his hand with party colleague Shashi Tharoor at Kharge’s residence in New Delhi, India, October 19, 2022. REUTERS/Altaf Hussain

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's opposition Congress party on Wednesday declared veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge its new chief, the first person from outside the influential Nehru-Gandhi family to hold the beleaguered party's presidency in 24 years.

The Congress, which held an election for the post on Monday, hopes to revive its flagging fortunes with a new leader after losing two general elections and control of some state assemblies to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).