India's Congress elects first non-Gandhi chief

India's opposition Congress party 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. Kharge, an 80-year-old from the lowest rung of The Congress, 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). "The most important issues facing the country right now is inflation, unemployment, a widening divide between the rich and poor and a growing environment of hatred spread by the ruling government," Kharge told reporters after his win. He overwhelmingly won the party vote held, defeating former UN diplomat Shashi Tharoor. - Reuters