Is the Man Carrying Rajiv Gandhi's Suitcase in Viral Photo Is Mallikarjun Kharge? Fact Check Calls Claim False
A viral social media claim alleging that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge carried a suitcase for former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi has been thoroughly debunked as false. Fact-checking organisations and official sources confirmed that the individual in the photograph is actually Siddharth Reddy, a close associate and former OSD of Rajiv Gandhi during his tenure.
A photograph circulating on social media, purportedly showing Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge carrying a suitcase for former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, is false. LatestLY's fact check revealed that individual in the viral picture has been identified as Siddharth Reddy, a close associate of Rajiv Gandhi, thereby debunking the misleading social media narrative.
The Viral Claim About Mallikarjun Kharge Carrying Suitcase
The claim, which first appeared around August 21, spread across social media platforms. Several people including Suresh Nakhua shared the image of Rajiv Gandhi, his son Rahul Gandhi, and another man, asserting that the man carrying a suitcase was Mallikarjun Kharge. This narrative implied a particular historical role for Kharge within the Congress party.
Picture of Siddharth Reddy With Rajiv Gandhi Claimed To Be Mallikarjun Kharge
Evidence and Official Sources
Upon examination, it was found that the man in the photograph is not Mallikarjun Kharge. Fact-checking organisation BOOM Live debunked this claim, identifying the individual as Siddharth Reddy. According to BOOM Live and WeRIndia, Reddy was a close associate and strategist of Rajiv Gandhi from Andhra Pradesh during his tenure as Prime Minister. BOOM Live's fact check, titled 'Photo Does Not Show Mallikarjun Kharge Carrying Rajiv Gandhi’s Suitcase', explicitly states that the man is Siddharth Reddy, not Kharge. This identification is consistent across various reports and serves as a primary source for verifying the image's context.
Besides BOOM, an X (formerly Twitter) user said that the person seen with Rajiv Gandhi in the viral picture is Siddhartha Reddy and not Mallikarjun Kharge. "The person in the picture is Siddhartha Reddy - who was an OSD to Rajiv Gandhi when he was the party's general secretary before becoming PM - who used to look after Amethi," the post read.
Context and Response
The misidentification appears to be a deliberate attempt to misrepresent Mallikarjun Kharge's historical standing and relationship with the Gandhi family. While Kharge has had a long and significant career within the Congress party, stretching back decades, this particular image does not pertain to him. The accurate identification of Siddharth Reddy as the person in the photograph clarifies the situation and debunks the misleading claim.
The Person in the Picture Is Siddhartha Reddy, Says X User
Viral Photo Shows Siddharth Reddy With Rajiv Gandhi
The claim that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is the man seen carrying Rajiv Gandhi's suitcase in the viral photograph is false. The individual has been correctly identified as Siddharth Reddy, a close associate of Rajiv Gandhi. Speaking to BOOM, Pranav Jha, the Congress president’s communications in-charge, also refuted the viral claim and said, "This is Siddharth Reddy, a friend of Rajiv Gandhi. His wife, Taradevi, was a Member of Parliament from Karnataka".
Fact check
The man seen carrying Rajiv Gandhi’s suitcase in the photograph is Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
The claim is false; the man in the viral photograph is Siddharth Reddy, a close associate of Rajiv Gandhi, not Mallikarjun Kharge.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 24, 2026 12:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).