Present-day politics is about showmanship and publicity, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge says, urges professionals to join

India’s present day politics is marked more by showmanship and publicity rather than substantive work, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Saturday (August 23, 2025), addressing the first batch of the Dr. Manmohan Singh Fellows Program.

Lauding the legacy of the late former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Congress chief said Dr. Singh spoke little but brought profound changes to the lives of people.

“Current politics is dominated by showmanship and publicity rather than substantive work. In such times, professionals like you need to step forward,” Mr. Kharge said at an induction ceremony at Indira Bhavan, the Congress headquarters.

The first batch of the Dr. Manmohan Singh Fellows Program by the All India Professionals’ Congress inducted 50 mid-career professionals, intellectuals, academics, and civil society activists from 17 different States into the party.

Praveen Chakravarty, who heads the All India Professionals’ Congress, was present at the event.

Welcoming the professionals into the party, Mr. Kharge urged them to use their specialised skills to connect with with the struggles of the common people.

“For example, with the help of data and technology, we have brought the issue of vote theft to the forefront. It has become a national issue, and [the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha] Rahul Gandhi-ji is undertaking a yatra in Bihar on this matter. Similarly, for issues like caste census and social justice, we need professionals to collect and analyse data,” Mr. Kharge said.

The Congress chief also pointed out that several stalwarts of the party, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and Sarojini Naidu, had given up illustrious careers to serve the nation.

Mr. Kharge said that in politics, the most important thing was faith, loyalty, and trust in ideology.

“The journey in politics is not easy. It requires patience and unwavering belief to bring about change. But remember, your work can transform the lives of millions and carry forward the tradition of building a modern India,” he said.

Mr. Chakravarty also spoke at the event. “This fellowship is not about individual careers but about collective impact. Each of you has chosen to step into public service when you could have pursued easier paths,” he said.

“The measure of your success will be the change you bring in people’s lives, by applying your skills with integrity, compassion, and commitment to India’s democracy,” the All India Professionals’ Congress chief said.