A major political row has erupted after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “terrorist” during election campaigning in Tamil Nadu. The Bharatiya Janata Party has strongly condemned the remark and filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission.
BJP MLA Meghana Bordikar described the comment as “shameful” and said it crossed all limits of political criticism. During an interview, she emphasised that while the opposition has a duty to question the government, such language is unacceptable. Moreover, she said the Prime Minister “resides in the heart of 140 crore people” and warned that Kharge would face public criticism and taunts over the remark.
Campaign rhetoric sharpens
Kharge made the statement while campaigning in Tamil Nadu ahead of polling, which quickly intensified the political atmosphere. Soon after, BJP leaders accused the Congress of lowering the standards of public discourse. They also argued that the statement disrespects the office of the Prime Minister.
In response, Kharge issued a clarification and said his remark was not meant literally. Instead, he claimed he wanted to highlight the alleged misuse of central agencies by the government.
However, the BJP escalated the issue further. It approached the Election Commission and alleged a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. In addition, the party demanded a public apology from Kharge. Several senior BJP leaders, including Union Ministers, condemned the remark and called it an insult to both the Prime Minister and the electorate.
Women’s reservation debate returns
Amid the controversy, Bordikar also addressed the Women’s Reservation Bill and praised the Modi government for prioritising women’s empowerment. According to her, earlier governments failed to focus on women’s issues. She credited the current administration with introducing impactful schemes. At the same time, she claimed that the dreams of women were shattered under previous regimes.
Her remarks come after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failed in Parliament. The Bill received 298 votes in favour and 230 against, and therefore fell short of the required two-thirds majority. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla confirmed the result, following which the government withdrew plans to move ahead with related bills.
These included the Delimitation Bill and amendments concerning Union Territories. Notably, the proposed law aimed to increase Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816. It also proposed 33 per cent reservation for women, along with fresh delimitation based on the 2011 Census.
Crucial Tamil Nadu battle
The controversy comes just before a key electoral contest in Tamil Nadu. The state will vote on April 23, while counting will take place on May 4. The main fight is between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the NDA bloc. The NDA includes the AIADMK, BJP, and PMK.
As campaigning ends, political tensions remain high. Both sides have sharpened their messaging in the final stretch, and the controversy has added further intensity to the contest.
