Kharge’s Patna Remark Sparks BJP Backlash Over Modi

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge triggered a political controversy in Patna on Sunday after responding to an audience member who insisted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not leave office by saying, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega” (Even Modi’s father will have to go). The remark came during a speech in which Kharge accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India (ECI) of electoral manipulation and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Speaking at Bapu Sabhagar on the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first Chief Minister, Shri Krishna Singh, Kharge called for opposition unity to defend voting rights and the Constitution. He alleged that electoral-roll revisions were being used to remove opposition supporters from voter lists and described the political situation as a struggle to protect democratic rights.

The remarks prompted criticism from senior BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who accused Kharge of using inappropriate language about the prime minister’s family. The event also exposed internal tensions within the Bihar Congress, where party workers protested against state-level leadership.

What Kharge Said in Patna

Kharge was addressing a gathering at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna when an audience member interrupted him, saying, “Modi nahi jayega” (Modi will not leave office). Kharge responded, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega,” before asking the gathering to settle down.

According to the report, the person who interrupted the speech was reportedly roughed up and escorted out by Congress workers. The exchange quickly became a political flashpoint, drawing attention away from parts of Kharge’s wider address on electoral integrity and opposition demands.

Kharge’s speech marked the birth anniversary of Shri Krishna Singh, popularly known as Shri Babu, who served as Bihar’s first chief minister. The Congress chief used the occasion to criticise the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Election Commission, while urging people to defend their voting rights.

He warned that failure to protect citizens’ right to vote could threaten the country’s democratic future, describing the campaign as a “second freedom struggle.” He also called on people in Bihar to take to the streets in defence of the Constitution and electoral rights.

Kharge Accuses BJP and Election Commission of ‘Vote Theft’

A central theme of Kharge’s address was his allegation that electoral manipulation had helped the BJP and its allies retain or form governments in several states. He accused the ruling establishment of using the electoral system to influence political outcomes and described governments in Bihar, Maharashtra, Haryana and West Bengal as “chori ki sarkar” (governments formed through theft).

These statements were allegations made by the Congress president and were not established findings of electoral wrongdoing in the supplied account.

Kharge specifically criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise was being used to delete the names of opposition supporters. He argued that voter-list integrity was essential to ensuring that eligible citizens could participate in elections.

He also demanded the dismissal of governments elected in Assembly polls over the preceding two years, the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the repeal of a 2023 law that he alleged gave election commissioners sweeping legal immunity.

The Congress leader’s demands form part of a broader opposition campaign questioning electoral procedures and the independence of institutions responsible for conducting elections. The claims concerning voter deletions and the alleged manipulation of election outcomes would require examination of the relevant records and evidence to establish their validity.

Opposition Seeks Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation and Changes to Election Rules

Kharge said the INDIA opposition bloc had submitted a set of demands to President Droupadi Murmu. These included Kumar’s resignation, withdrawal of the 2023 law, a halt to the SIR exercise and restoration of voters’ names allegedly removed unlawfully.

The opposition also called for a return to paper ballots for all elections. The demand reflects its wider concerns about the electoral process and the safeguards needed to ensure confidence in election results.

Kharge alleged that two Election Commission members had written to Kumar 14 times over 10 months about irregularities in electoral rolls. He also referred to the alleged role of a female officer who, according to his account, controlled election software and directed Booth Level Officers to remove names.

He further alleged that Kumar, while serving in Kerala, had urged a chief secretary to resign and contest an election on a BJP ticket. The supplied material does not independently verify these allegations or provide the Election Commission’s response to the specific claims raised in the speech.

The controversy comes amid opposition protests against the Chief Election Commissioner and a reported police crackdown on those demonstrations in the days before Kharge’s Patna appearance.

Amit Shah and BJP Leaders Condemn Kharge’s Remarks

Amit Shah criticised Kharge’s remarks in a post on X, accusing the Congress president of crossing the limits of political decorum by making a comment about the prime minister’s father. Shah also alleged that Congress leaders had repeatedly used insulting language against Modi and his family.

In his Hindi-language response, Shah referred to earlier controversies involving remarks about Modi’s mother and descriptions of the prime minister. He argued that the Congress was increasingly relying on personal attacks rather than political issues and said the party’s repeated electoral defeats had contributed to frustration within its ranks.

The BJP also issued a statement criticising Kharge’s language. It compared his remarks with the behaviour of other Congress leaders and accused the party of adopting an increasingly confrontational style of politics.

BJP leader Nitin Nabin separately described Kharge’s comments as inappropriate and unparliamentary. He argued that political disagreement should remain within the boundaries of public decorum and accused the opposition of resorting to personal attacks when it lacked substantive policy arguments.

These responses reflect the BJP’s criticism of Kharge’s remarks. The controversy has also highlighted the broader dispute between the two parties over political rhetoric, electoral integrity and the conduct of public officials.

Kharge Questions Nitish Kumar’s Alliance With BJP and RSS

Kharge also criticised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his political alliance with the BJP and the RSS. Referring to Kumar’s background in socialist politics, the Congress president questioned why he had joined forces with parties he portrayed as ideologically different from his earlier political tradition.

“Nitish Kumar came from the ideology of the socialist movement. I do not understand what compulsion made him fall into the lap of the BJP and RSS,” Kharge said.

The remark formed part of the Congress leader’s broader criticism of the BJP and its political relationships in Bihar. His address sought to connect the current political dispute with questions about ideological consistency, the Constitution and the protection of democratic institutions.

Kharge’s criticism also reflected the opposition’s effort to challenge the BJP-led political establishment by highlighting differences between its allies’ earlier positions and their present alliances.

Kharge Invokes Shri Krishna Singh’s Record on Social Equality

Kharge used the legacy of Shri Krishna Singh to criticise the RSS and discuss the history of social equality in Bihar. He referred to Singh’s opposition to untouchability and his role in facilitating the entry of Dalits into the Baidyanath Dham temple in Deoghar in 1953, despite resistance.

Deoghar was part of undivided Bihar at the time and is now in Jharkhand. By citing the episode, Kharge linked the historical struggle against caste discrimination with his criticism of contemporary political and social practices.

He also referred to an alleged purification ritual at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, after a public meeting he addressed there on August 8. The Congress alleged that the ritual amounted to caste discrimination against Kharge, who is a Dalit leader.

The organisation behind the ritual said it was intended to restore the venue’s religious and cultural sanctity. The BJP distanced itself from the organisation and denied having any link to the event.

Kharge said BJP leader J P Nadda had apologised in Parliament and promised an inquiry into the matter. He questioned whether the inquiry had been conducted and criticised Modi for not publicly commenting on the incident.

He also referred to the filing of a case against Rahul Gandhi over remarks made during a visit to Uttarakhand. The supplied account does not provide further details about the case or the outcome of any inquiry into the Haldwani incident.

Congress Workers Protest Against Bihar Party Leadership

Kharge’s visit also exposed internal discontent within the Bihar Congress. Outside Bapu Sabhagar, party workers staged protests demanding the removal of state Congress president Rajesh Ram and Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru.

Protesters carried banners describing the two leaders as “BJP agents” and calling for their removal, with the slogan “Remove them, save the Congress.” The demonstration indicated that the party was facing internal disagreements even as its national leadership criticised the BJP and the Election Commission.

The protests raise questions about organisational cohesion within the Bihar Congress as it seeks to mobilise supporters around electoral issues. However, the supplied account does not establish how widespread the discontent is within the state unit or whether the party leadership intends to make changes.

The contrast between Kharge’s call for opposition unity and the protests against his party’s state-level leadership was a notable feature of the Patna event.

Congress Questions Women’s Reservation and Delimitation Timeline

Kharge also questioned why the one-third reservation for women could not be implemented without waiting for delimitation. He credited the Congress leadership, particularly Sonia Gandhi, with pushing for legislation on women’s reservation.

His remarks formed part of the Congress’s wider criticism of the government’s approach to electoral and constitutional questions. The supplied material does not provide further details about the specific legislative changes Kharge proposed or the government’s response to his argument.

The issue adds another dimension to the political dispute, which extends beyond allegations of voter-list manipulation to questions about representation, election rules and the timing of institutional changes.

Congress Plans November 1 Rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan

Kharge urged supporters to attend a planned rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1 as part of the Congress campaign against alleged electoral manipulation.

He said the party would continue to raise concerns about voters’ rights and called on supporters to stand with the INDIA bloc. Emphasising the need to protect electoral participation, he said: “The voice of truth can no longer be suppressed. The people’s rights cannot simply be erased.”

The planned rally is expected to serve as another platform for the opposition to present its demands concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, the Election Commission and the legal framework governing election commissioners.

The supplied account does not specify the expected attendance or indicate whether the demands submitted to President Droupadi Murmu have received a formal response.

What the Patna Controversy Means for Indian Politics

The Patna event brought together several disputes shaping the political debate: allegations of electoral manipulation, demands for changes to election rules, criticism of political alliances, arguments over caste equality and tensions within the Congress organisation in Bihar.

Kharge’s exchange with the audience member became the most visible moment of the speech, prompting strong criticism from BJP leaders. Yet his wider address focused on the opposition’s claims about electoral rolls and its demand for action by the Election Commission.

The central electoral allegations remain contested. The Congress has claimed that the SIR exercise could result in the unlawful deletion of opposition supporters’ names, while the supplied account does not provide independent findings establishing that the alleged manipulation occurred as described.

The episode also illustrates how political messaging can become entangled with disputes over language and personal attacks. While the BJP focused on Kharge’s remarks about Modi’s father, the Congress chief continued to frame his speech around voting rights, constitutional protections and the independence of electoral institutions.

With the Congress planning a rally in Delhi on November 1, the dispute is likely to remain part of the party’s campaign against alleged electoral irregularities. The key questions include whether the opposition’s demands receive a response, what evidence emerges concerning the voter-roll allegations and how the Election Commission addresses concerns about electoral procedures.

For now, Kharge’s remarks have intensified the political confrontation between the Congress and BJP, while the protests at the Patna event have highlighted the organisational challenges facing the Congress in Bihar. The competing allegations and responses underscore the importance of distinguishing political claims from findings established through evidence and official processes.