A political controversy has broken out ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge made abusive remarks against Gujaratis. Speaking at a rally in Idukki on Sunday, 5th April, Kharge said that people in Kerala are “educated and clever” and cannot be fooled, unlike people in Gujarat.
Addressing the gathering, Kharge claimed, “Don’t misguide the people of Kerala. They are very clever and educated. Modiji, Vijayan, you both can fool illiterate people in Gujarat, but you cannot fool the people of Kerala.”
KHARGE : "Modi Ji, You can fool people who are illiterate in Gujarat & other places, but you can't fool people in Kerala; people here are educated"
— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) April 5, 2026
BJP slams Congress for such remarks.pic.twitter.com/UvuEKb2sLM
He remarked while saying that both Modi and CM of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, are walking the same path, and there is no difference between them except the parties they lead.
The BJP responded strongly, with Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi taking to social media to rubbish Kharge’s remarks. He said the statement insulted the six crore people of Gujarat and ignored the state’s legacy. Sanghavi pointed out that Gujarat has given the country leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
खड़गे जी,
— Harsh Sanghavi (@sanghaviharsh) April 5, 2026
जिस गुजरात की धरती ने देश को महात्मा गांधी दिए,
जिस गुजरात ने देश को लौह पुरुष सरदार पटेल दिए,
जिस गुजरात ने देश के सबसे लोकप्रिय PM @narendramodi जी दिए,
जिस गुजरात ने विकास का नया मॉडल पूरी दुनिया को दिखाया
उस गुजरात के 6 करोड़ गुजरातवासियों का अपमान?
कांग्रेस को…
He further questioned whether such comments were coming out of frustration, asking if the Congress was upset after being “thrown out of power” in Gujarat. Sanghavi added that the people of Gujarat are politically aware and have always rejected those who insult their state, warning that “Gujarat will not forgive.”
The CM of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, also spoke in this matter, sharing a long post on X. He wrote, “The statements made by Congress National President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge ji regarding the people of Gujarat are extremely objectionable and unfortunate. Such remarks not only insult the 6 crore residents of Gujarat but also tarnish the dignity of the sacred land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel.”
कांग्रेस के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री मल्लिकार्जुन खड़गे जी द्वारा गुजरात के लोगों के संदर्भ में दिए गए बयान अत्यंत आपत्तिजनक और दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण हैं।
— Bhupendra Patel (@Bhupendrapbjp) April 5, 2026
इस प्रकार की टिप्पणी न केवल 6 करोड़ गुजरातवासियों का अपमान है, बल्कि महात्मा गांधी और सरदार पटेल की पावन धरती की गरिमा को भी ठेस…
“Gujarat has always played a leading role in nation-building, development, and unity, and it will continue to do so in the future. Such statements reflect the Congress party’s narrow-minded thinking,” he added.
BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi also criticised Kharge, questioning his views on the “intelligence” of leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, who came from different parts of the country.
Trivedi accused the Congress of trying to divide people ahead of the elections and said that voters in Kerala would give a strong reply to such remarks.
