Congress Defends Kharge Against ECI Notice Over Remarks on PM Modi
The Congress party spoke out on Thursday to the Election Commission of India (ECI), insisting that its leader, Mallikarjun Kharge, did not break the model code of conduct. They highlighted that Kharge had already clarified his statements about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, amid accusations that the ECI took no action against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The ECI had issued a notice to Kharge on Wednesday, claiming that he initially violated the model code when he referred to Modi as a “terrorist” during a recent press conference in Chennai. This comment was made on the last day of campaigning for the Tamil Nadu elections. Kharge later explained that he intended to express that the Prime Minister was “terrorising” the democratic principles of the country.
In response to the ECI’s notice, AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh requested more time to formulate a response, just hours before the deadline set by the commission.
In his letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Ramesh pointed out that the Congress party received two notices with the same reference number, both listed as dated April 22, 2026, yet signed by different officials. He raised concerns about the lack of clarity, noting that one notice referred to a complaint from Derek O’Brien of the All India Trinamool Congress, while the other did not mention him at all.
Ramesh criticized the ECI for issuing these notices without thorough consideration and for allowing only 24 hours for a response, especially given Kharge’s busy schedule with multiple campaigns.
During his press conference, Kharge criticized the alliance between the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the BJP. He questioned how AIADMK leaders could join forces with Modi, implying that the Prime Minister was undermining equality and democracy.
After facing backlash, Kharge clarified that his remark was not meant in the literal sense, but rather to indicate that the Prime Minister’s actions were threatening to the democratic framework of the nation.
On Wednesday, a BJP delegation, including prominent ministers, urged the ECI to take stringent action against Kharge and demanded a public apology, describing his comments as deeply disrespectful.
The Congress party also pointed out two instances of alleged misconduct by the BJP which they believe the ECI overlooked. One incident involved Modi’s national address about the failure of a Constitutional Amendment, which they argued was a direct political attack during an active election period. Another was a social media post from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which the Congress claimed resembled a form of bribery within the election context.
As the situation unfolds, both parties continue to exchange heated remarks, with the ECI expected to respond to these developments soon.
