A fresh political controversy has erupted after the Election Commission of India issued a show-cause notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over his remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The notice, issued on Wednesday, comes just ahead of crucial polling in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, intensifying the already charged political atmosphere.
Responding to the development on Thursday, Kharge struck a defiant tone, stating, “Let the notice come and we will reply to it in the evening. Our people will reply to it.” His remarks signal that the Congress leadership is preparing a formal response within the 24-hour deadline set by the poll body.
The controversy stems from a statement made by Kharge during a press conference in Chennai, where he criticised the alliance between the BJP and the AIADMK. In the course of his remarks, Kharge initially referred to Prime Minister Modi as a “terrorist,” drawing sharp backlash from the ruling party. The BJP swiftly condemned the statement, accusing the Congress leader of using derogatory and unacceptable language against the Prime Minister.
In its notice, the Election Commission stated that Kharge’s comments were prima facie in violation of the Model Code of Conduct, which governs political behaviour during elections. The Commission has asked him to clarify his position, warning that failure to respond within the stipulated time would lead to further action without additional reference.
Interestingly, this is not the first time the matter has come up before the Commission. An earlier notice was issued naming Union minister Kiren Rijiju and Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien as complainants. However, the EC later withdrew that notice from its website and reissued a revised version, removing O’Brien’s name.
Facing mounting criticism, Kharge later clarified that his remarks had been taken out of context. He insisted that he did not intend to label the Prime Minister a “terrorist” in the literal sense, but rather meant that Modi was “terrorising” political parties and democratic institutions. “He is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist. He is misusing his power and government machinery and maligning opposition parties,” Kharge explained.
The clarification, however, has done little to quell the political storm. The BJP has continued to attack Kharge, portraying his comments as indicative of the opposition’s desperation and lack of decorum. On the other hand, Congress leaders have defended their president, arguing that his remarks were aimed at highlighting alleged misuse of central agencies and political pressure on opposition parties.
The timing of the notice has added another layer of significance to the controversy. With polling underway in key states, the incident underscores the heightened tensions and sharp rhetoric that have come to define election campaigns in recent years.
As the deadline for Kharge’s response approaches, all eyes are on how the Congress will defend its position and whether the Election Commission will take further action. The episode once again brings into focus the fine line political leaders must walk between aggressive campaigning and adherence to the code of conduct during elections.
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