Patna/New Delhi, October 25, 2026: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has triggered a major political controversy after making the remark “Modi ka baap bhi jayega” during a public event in Patna on Sunday, prompting sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and demands for an apology.
The controversy erupted during Kharge’s address at Bapu Sabhagar, where a programme was organised to mark the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first chief minister, Dr Shri Krishna Singh, popularly known as Shri Babu.
The exchange took place after an audience member was heard saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not leave office. Mallikarjun Kharge responded with the controversial phrase, which can be translated as “Even Modi’s father will have to go.”
View tweet
However, the episode took a fresh turn after the man, identified in media reports as Santosh Kumar, claimed that his statement had been heard only partially and misunderstood. He said he was arguing that Modi would not leave office unless people revolted against the government.
The incident has since escalated into a political confrontation, with BJP leaders accusing Kharge of crossing the boundaries of political decency, while Congress leaders have defended the remark as part of a heated political exchange.
What Exactly Happened at the Patna Event?
Kharge was addressing the gathering when the exchange with the audience member disrupted his speech.
According to reports, the man’s words were heard as “Modi kahin nahin jayega”, meaning that Modi would not go anywhere or leave office. Kharge reacted sharply, saying, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega.”
The exchange triggered a commotion at the venue. Reports said the man was surrounded by people, roughed up and subsequently escorted out of the hall.
The man later claimed that his complete sentence had not been heard. He said he was trying to convey that Modi would not leave office unless there was a public revolt against the government.
View tweet
His explanation has added a new dimension to the controversy, raising questions about whether the initial exchange was based on a misunderstanding.
The remark nevertheless spread rapidly on social media, becoming the centre of a political dispute between the Congress and the BJP.
BJP Demands Apology, Accuses Congress of Personal Attacks
BJP leaders strongly condemned Kharge’s remark, accusing the Congress president of bringing the Prime Minister’s family into a political argument.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the Congress chief, alleging that the opposition party had repeatedly resorted to personal attacks against Modi instead of challenging the government on policy and governance.
BJP leaders also argued that such language was inappropriate for a senior political leader and the president of a national party.
View tweet
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and other NDA leaders demanded an unconditional apology from Kharge and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Bihar BJP leaders, including state party president Sanjay Saraogi, also criticised the remarks, accusing the Congress of lowering political standards.
The BJP has maintained that political disagreements should focus on government policies, public accountability and governance rather than remarks involving family members.
The party’s response has intensified the confrontation, with the controversy extending beyond Bihar into the national political arena.
ALSO READ: Daler Mehndi Controversy: Why Uttarakhand Minister Interrupted Singer’s Performance
Congress Defends Mallikarjun Kharge, Counters BJP’s Allegations
Congress leaders have pushed back against the BJP’s criticism, arguing that the remark emerged during a heated exchange at a political gathering. Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput defended Kharge’s remarks, arguing that the Prime Minister and BJP leaders had themselves used harsh language against political opponents in the past.
Other Congress functionaries also questioned what they described as selective outrage over political remarks, citing previous exchanges involving Modi and leaders of the opposition.
The party’s defence has centred on the argument that political statements should be assessed in their broader context rather than through isolated phrases.Mallik
However, the controversy has continued to raise questions about whether the language used by senior leaders contributes to a constructive political debate.
Mallikarjun Kharge’s Patna Speech Also Targeted BJP, RSS and Election Commission
The controversial exchange occurred during a broader political attack on the BJP-led government.
In his address, Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP and the government of undermining democratic institutions and alleged that electoral processes were being manipulated to influence election outcomes.
He specifically criticised the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise was being used to remove the names of opposition supporters from voter lists.
These allegations form part of the Congress-led opposition’s wider campaign over electoral transparency and the functioning of the Election Commission of India. The claims are contested and should be distinguished from established findings of electoral wrongdoing.
Kharge also attacked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), arguing that its ideology was incompatible with constitutional values and social equality.
He criticised Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary’s political predecessors and questioned the political alignment of Nitish Kumar, who joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance after previously being associated with socialist politics.
The speech therefore combined criticism of the government, the RSS and the Election Commission with the exchange that subsequently overshadowed the event.
Complaint Filed Against Kharge
The controversy has also moved beyond political statements.
A BJP leader filed a complaint against Kharge at Patna’s Kotwali police station over the remark concerning the Prime Minister’s father, according to a report published on Sunday.
The complaint adds a legal dimension to the political dispute. However, the filing of a complaint does not by itself establish that an offence has occurred or that the allegations have been proved.
Any further legal action will depend on the complaint’s contents and the response of the relevant authorities.
Why the Remark Has Become a National Political Issue
The controversy comes amid heightened political tensions between the Congress-led opposition and the BJP-led government over electoral integrity, the role of constitutional institutions and the conduct of political campaigns.
For the BJP, Kharge’s words provide an opportunity to accuse the Congress of crossing personal and political boundaries. For the Congress, the episode has become another flashpoint in its broader confrontation with the government.
The clarification offered by the audience member has also complicated the narrative. If his account is accurate, the initial exchange may have stemmed from an incomplete sentence rather than an unambiguous defence of the Prime Minister.
At the same time, the clarification does not erase the words Kharge used in response, which have become the focus of the backlash.
The incident highlights how a brief, heated exchange at a political event can quickly dominate the news cycle, particularly when it involves the country’s Prime Minister and the head of the principal opposition party.
What Happens Next?
The immediate political fallout is likely to centre on whether Kharge issues a clarification or apology, how the Congress leadership responds to the BJP’s demands, and whether the complaint filed in Patna leads to further action.
The controversy is also likely to feed into the continuing debate over political discourse, personal attacks and the standards expected of senior public representatives.
For now, the exchange has overshadowed much of Kharge’s wider message on electoral rolls, democratic institutions and the Constitution.
The dispute also remains shaped by two competing narratives: the BJP’s charge that the Congress president made an unacceptable personal remark, and the claim by the audience member that his original statement was misunderstood.
TAGS: Mallikarjun Kharge, Mallikarjun Kharge Modi Remarks, Mallikarjun Kharge Modi ka Baap Controversy, Congress Mallikarjun Kharge, Mallikarjun Kharge Controversy, Mallikarjun Kharge Vs Modi, Narendra Modi, Mallikarjun Kharge Narendra Modi
