Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Sparks Controversy by Calling PM Modi a 'Terrorist'
In a dramatic development during the heated election season, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "terrorist" while campaigning in Chennai, only to issue a clarification hours later. The remarks are expected to trigger significant political controversy as Tamil Nadu prepares for assembly elections on Thursday.
Kharge's Explosive Remarks During Final Campaign Day
Kharge made the controversial statement on the final day of campaigning for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, scheduled for May 2. He was specifically criticizing the AIADMK over its alliance with Prime Minister Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"How can they join with Modi? He is a terrorist. And he doesn't believe in equality. His party won't believe in equality and justice," Kharge declared during his campaign speech.
The Congress leader further elaborated that by aligning with the BJP, the AIADMK was "weakening democracy" and undermining the philosophical legacy of prominent leaders including Annadurai, Kamaraj, Periyar, Kalaignar, and Baba Saheb Ambedkar.
In contrast, Kharge emphasized that the Congress-DMK alliance would continue to deliver welfare programs, inclusive growth, quality education, and accessible healthcare to the people of Tamil Nadu.
Clarification and Context of the Remarks
When questioned about the context of his inflammatory language, the Congress chief clarified that he meant the Prime Minister consistently "threatens" political opponents and pointed to what he described as the "misuse" of central investigative agencies by the BJP-led government.
"I want to clarify that Modi always threatens. The institutions like ED, I-T and CBI are in his hands. Therefore I say, in that context, I say he is terrorising people and political parties," the veteran politician stated, attempting to contextualize his earlier remarks.
BJP's Strong Reaction to Kharge's Comments
Reacting swiftly to Kharge's remarks, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya strongly criticized the Congress leader, calling it a "yet another crass display" in a post on social media platform X.
"This isn't the first time Kharge has dragged public discourse to such lows. But with this remark, he hasn't just diminished himself, he has exposed what is a stated approach of the Congress: abuse and vilification of India's most popular leader instead of meaningful debate," Malviya posted.
The BJP leader further argued that "when politics is reduced to name-calling, it reflects not strength, but a deep frustration and lack of credible alternatives" from the opposition party.
Background of Tamil Nadu Political Alliances
The controversy emerges against the backdrop of significant political realignments in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK, which is an arch-rival of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), joined hands with the BJP in April 2025 after breaking away from their alliance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Both the AIADMK and BJP failed to win any seats in Tamil Nadu during the 2024 parliamentary elections, while the DMK and its allies swept the state completely. This electoral history adds substantial weight to the current political maneuvering and rhetorical exchanges.
Election Timeline and Counting Schedule
Voting for all 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu is scheduled for Thursday, with the counting of votes set to take place on May 4. The election results will determine the political direction of one of India's most significant southern states for the next five years.
The controversy surrounding Kharge's remarks adds another layer of intensity to what was already a highly charged election campaign season, with national leaders actively participating in state-level political battles.
