The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, 26 October launched a sharp attack on Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his remark 'Modi ka baap bhi jayega', made at a public event in Bihar, calling it a reflection of the opposition party's political culture and leadership mindset. The controversy erupted after Kharge made the comment in apparent response to an audience member who said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not be going anywhere.

The Incident and Its Context

The remark was made during a programme in Bihar organised to commemorate the 139th birth anniversary of Shrikrishna Singh, the state's first Chief Minister. Kharge was addressing the gathering when the exchange occurred. The BJP moved quickly to seize on the comment, framing it as evidence of a broader pattern of personal attacks by the Congress leadership.

What BJP Leaders Said

Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav described the remarks as 'extremely unfortunate', arguing they exposed the thinking of the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, and Kharge himself. 'Congress national president Kharge's objectionable remarks about PM Modi yesterday were extremely unfortunate. This reflects the thinking of the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi and its president. This is the culture of the Congress party, which is why the party has already been finished,' Yadav said. He added that political differences could always be expressed through dignified language without resorting to personal attacks. 'I understand that you can oppose anyone using dignified language, but resorting to abuse or making such remarks raises questions about political ethics,' he said.

West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh asserted that Prime Minister Modi's leadership commanded respect both domestically and internationally. 'Modi Ji's leadership is respected not only in the country but also abroad today. The BJP is winning continuously and delivering the benefits of development to the people, so they have already lost the political battle. That is why they make personal attacks against Modi Ji and our other leaders, which do not align with our traditions,' Ghosh said.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Yogendra Upadhyaya went further, alleging that the use of such language reflected a deeper absence of political values within Congress leadership. 'Using abusive language is part of their culture. If a person is not given a gift, they cry for a while. If a person is not taught values, they cry throughout their life. And if a political person lacks values, they not only cry themselves but also make the entire society and the country cry. These are the very people whose leadership lacks values, which is why they make such statements,' Upadhyaya said.

Congress and SP Push Back

Samajwadi Party (SP) spokesperson Ashutosh Verma defended Kharge, claiming the remark was being taken out of context. 'His statement is being taken out of context... The BJP changes slogans and uses them as a weapon, which is wrong in politics. Politics should be based on issues. Kharge said that those who try to undermine or abolish the Constitution should be sent to jail. The BJP should answer whether it has not tried to undermine the Constitution or passed several bills in Parliament through a voice vote. The BJP has no issue-based response, so it is talking about unrelated matters,' Verma said.

The Broader Political Pattern

This comes amid an already charged political atmosphere, with Bihar emerging as a key battleground where both the ruling alliance and the opposition have been trading barbs. Notably, BJP's multi-state coordinated response — drawing reactions from ministers in Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh — signals a deliberate effort to amplify the controversy and keep Congress on the defensive. Personal attacks and counter-attacks over political language have become a recurring feature of India's electoral cycle, and this episode is unlikely to be the last such flashpoint in the run-up to upcoming state polls.