KHARGE'S PERSONAL JIBE AT MODI SPARKS POLITICAL FIRESTORM AS BJP ACCUSES CONGRESS OF ABANDONING DECORUM

October 27, 2026

PATNA, October 27, 2026: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has triggered a political controversy following a remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s father during an event in Patna, drawing sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and intensifying the confrontation between the two parties.

The controversy erupted on Sunday at a programme marking the 139th birth anniversary of Krishna Singh, Bihar’s first chief minister, popularly known as Sri Babu. Kharge was discussing alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and said those responsible would be sent to jail. When an audience member interjected that Modi would remain in power as long as there was no rebellion, Kharge responded with the remark, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega.”

BJP leaders condemned the statement, accusing the Congress chief of crossing the boundaries of acceptable political discourse. Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi described the remark as disrespectful to the Prime Minister and the democratic mandate. BJP president Nitin Nabin and Union Home Minister Amit Shah also criticised Kharge, alleging that the Congress was lowering standards of political conduct through personal attacks.

Amid the controversy, Kharge also demanded the withdrawal of the SIR exercise, the restoration of ballot papers in elections and the annulment of assembly elections held over the preceding two years. He accused the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of deepening social divisions and called for action against caste-based discrimination and practices of untouchability.

Kharge maintained that his political opposition was directed at discrimination rather than religion, emphasising equality and the right of Dalits to enter and worship at temples without discrimination.

The dispute has added another flashpoint to the ongoing BJP–Congress confrontation, with the controversy over Kharge’s language competing for attention with broader disagreements over electoral processes, caste discrimination and political accountability.