Letter.

Letter Published in The National UAE on21 Oct 22 A milestone in Indian national politics With reference to Taniya Dutta's article Mallikarjun Kharge elected leader of India's Congress Party (October 19): India's grand old Congress party elected its first new leader from outside the Gandhi family in more than 20 years. This is a big development in Indian politics. It comes after much criticism of the party from within and outside the Congress, and after the party's repeated drubbings in state and federal elections. Between the two candidates contesting for the post of party president, both Mr Kharge and Shashi Tharoor had sound credentials. It is fitting that a long standing loyalist was elected. Mr Kharge has a tough task, moreso at the age of 80, to reshape the party and help it regain its lost credibility. K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India