The Congress today declared veteran Mallikarjun Kharge its new chief, the first non-Gandhi to lead the party in 24 years. He will take charge on October 26. Mr Kharge, 80, widely seen to be the "Gandhi-approved" candidate in a contest against Shashi Tharoor, won 84 per cent of the votes cast on Monday. The rupee closed at a new record low of 83.02 against the dollar on Wednesday, reversing gains from earlier in the session on more indications that high inflation will keep major central banks in rate-hike mode, hurting the recent risk-assets rally. Defending the early release of 11 men convicted of raping Bilkis Bano and killing her entire family in the 2002 Gujarat riots, the Gujarat government cited "good behaviour" and the Centre's approval and other top stories.
