India's Congress tries to reinvent itself, but will it ever catch BJP?

Political party struggles to shed 'Kennedys of India' image and reconnect with voters

Mallikarjun Kharge is the first leader of the Indian National Congress from outside the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, though he still has strong ties to the family. © Reuters

TORU TAKAHASHI, Nikkei senior staff writer

November 15, 2022 09:30 JST

TOKYO -- After being sidelined for years, Asia's oldest surviving political party is looking to mount a comeback under new leadership.

Founded in 1885, the Indian National Congress for decades has been led by the Nehru-Gandhi family -- often compared to the Kennedys in the U.S. for their prominence in politics and losing multiple members to assassinations.