The Election Commission of India issued a notice to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday, 22nd April, after he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “terrorist” during a recent campaign speech. According to officials, the poll body has taken the remark seriously and asked Kharge to respond within 24 hours, explaining his statement.
An EC official said, “The EC has taken a serious note of the Congress president calling PM Modi a ‘terrorist’ and has issued a stern notice to him, asking him to explain his stand within 24 hours.”
The Election Commission of India (#ECI) has taken serious cognizance of Congress President #MallikarjunKharge's remark labeling Prime Minister #NarendraModi a "terrorist." In a stern notice issued to Kharge, the #ECI demands an explanation and warns of potential violations of the… pic.twitter.com/1pEOk82OCC
— News9 (@News9Tweets) April 22, 2026
BJP files complaint, seeks strict action
The notice came after a delegation of BJP leaders, including Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju and Arjun Ram Meghwal, met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday, 22nd. The delegation submitted a formal complaint demanding strict action against Kharge under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Speaking after the meeting, Rijiju said, “We are hurt, anguished and outraged. With a very heavy heart, we met the EC today and demanded the strictest possible action against the Congress president. While the EC will take its call, we pledge to eradicate every single terrorist under the leadership of PM Modi.”
Rijiju also referred to an earlier remark made by Sonia Gandhi in 2007, saying, “Congress leaders have made it a habit to call PM names, but they crossed all limits of decency this time.”
In its complaint, the BJP termed Kharge’s statement “shocking and disgraceful” and said, “This is not just derogatory; it is a dangerous and unprecedented attack on democratic institutions. A blatant violation of the model code of conduct. Immediate action is non-negotiable.”
The party has also demanded an immediate public apology and urged the EC to initiate proceedings under Sections 175 and 356(1) of the BNS. It further asked the Commission to direct the “immediate cessation of further dissemination of the impugned statement” and to ensure that it is removed from media and social media platforms.
What Kharge said and how the row began
The controversy began on Tuesday, 21st April, the last day of campaigning in Tamil Nadu, when Kharge criticised the AIADMK for aligning with the BJP. During his speech, he said, “How can they (AIADMK) join with Modi? He is a terrorist. And he who won’t believe in equality. His party won’t believe in equality and justice. And these people are joining with them, it means that they are weakening democracy…”
Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge says, "How can they (AIADMK) join with Modi? He is a terrorist. And he who won't believe in equality. His party won't believe in equality and justice. And these people are joining with them, it means that they are… pic.twitter.com/qymq7H54Z7
— IANS (@ians_india) April 21, 2026
His remarks quickly triggered a political storm, with the BJP accusing him of crossing the line and violating the Model Code of Conduct, leading to the EC stepping in with a formal notice.
