NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday expressed gratitude to party workers, leaders, and well-wishers for their support after his recent pacemaker surgery. The 83-year-old veteran leader said he intends to resume his work schedule soon. “My sincere thanks to the Congress cadres, leaders and supporters for the outpouring of wishes. My deepest gratitude. I intend to start my work schedule soon,” Kharge posted on X.Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also enquired about his health and wished him a speedy recovery.Kharge underwent the pacemaker implantation on Wednesday. His son, Priyank Kharge, a minister in the Congress-led Karnataka government, said the procedure was “short and minor” and confirmed that the Congress president was stable and recovering well. He is scheduled to resume official duties from Friday.Among his first major public programmes will be a visit to Nagaland on October 7. Kharge is set to address a public rally at Naga Solidarity Park in Kohima, where the Congress is expecting a turnout of at least 10,000 people. The event will be held under the theme “Safe Democracy, Safe Secularism, Safe Nagaland.” Nagaland Congress president and Lok Sabha MP S Supongmeren Jamir said the rally would highlight issues of vital importance to the state, including youth employment, entrepreneurship, good governance, and road connectivity.In addition to the rally, Kharge will also meet senior members of the Congress Political Affairs Committee, Pro-Committee, and District Congress Committee presidents during his visit.