BJP backs Sharmistha Mukherjee on Modi remark; Congress hits back
Synopsis
A remark attributed to the late President Pranab Mukherjee — that Modi is India's first directly elected PM — has reignited the BJP-Congress war over dynastic politics. With Sharmistha Mukherjee at the centre and her father unable to confirm or deny, the episode exposes how both parties weaponise legacy figures to score political points.
Key Takeaways
Sharmistha Mukherjee recalled her father, former President Pranab Mukherjee , describing PM Modi as India's first directly elected Prime Minister.
BJP leaders including Tarun Chugh and Rohan Gupta framed the remark as a 'direct attack on Congress dynasty politics.' Congress Spokesperson Surendra Rajput accused Sharmistha of 'telling lies' and demanded documentary evidence of her father's alleged statement.
Congress MP Manoj Kumar argued Sharmistha should have also addressed inflation, unemployment, and paper leaks given Pranab Mukherjee's legacy.
The dispute reflects a broader BJP narrative targeting Congress's internal dynastic culture ahead of upcoming state elections.
Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, sparked a sharp political exchange on Saturday, 27 June after she recalled her late father describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as India's first directly elected Prime Minister. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swiftly rallied behind her, framing the remark as a pointed indictment of Congress's dynastic culture, while the Congress dismissed it as an attempt by Sharmistha to court favour with the ruling party.
BJP's Reaction: A Strike at Dynasty Politics
BJP leader Rohan Gupta called the late President's reported view 'a direct attack on dynasty politics,' arguing that if a senior Congress figure had acknowledged Modi's democratic mandate, the party had no choice but to accept it as reality. 'The Congress has never introspected — that is why its downfall is evident,' Gupta said. 'Public also accepts this,' he added.
BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh went further, contending that the Congress had historically sidelined experienced leaders in favour of 'dynastic and corrupt princes and princesses.' Chugh cited Pranab Mukherjee's reported public statements that PM Modi's leadership was 'the need of the hour' and that India would 'progress rapidly' under him. 'The dream that he had seen for India under PM Modi's leadership is turning into reality,' Chugh asserted.
BJP MP Rahul Sinha echoed the argument, claiming that previous prime ministers owed their positions to internal party quotas rather than a direct popular mandate, and that Modi alone had been chosen by the electorate.
Congress Pushes Back
Congress Spokesperson Surendra Rajput accused Sharmistha Mukherjee of 'insulting her father by telling lies,' and demanded that any such statement by Pranab Mukherjee be placed on record publicly. Rajput alleged that Sharmistha, who has been associated with the BJP, was 'misquoting her father in order to impress the BJP' after the party had not given her adequate prominence.
Congress MP Manoj Kumar took a broader swipe, saying that while Sharmistha had spoken on several issues, she had conspicuously avoided addressing inflation, unemployment, fuel prices, and paper leaks — concerns he argued deserved equal attention given her father's stature in Indian politics.
Who Is Sharmistha Mukherjee?
Sharmistha Mukherjee is the daughter of Bharat Ratna awardee and former President Pranab Mukherjee, who served as the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017 and held multiple senior portfolios in Congress-led governments over several decades. Pranab Mukherjee passed away in August 2020. His political legacy has been contested posthumously, with both the BJP and Congress seeking to claim his endorsement.
The Broader Context
The row is the latest in a recurring pattern where BJP leaders invoke statements — real or attributed — by senior Congress figures to challenge the party's internal culture. This comes amid a wider BJP narrative ahead of state election cycles that frames the Congress as a family-run enterprise rather than a democratic organisation. Critics argue, however, that selectively quoting a deceased leader without verifiable documentation raises questions of attribution that both sides have so far left unresolved.
Point of View
And neither side has produced a verifiable record. The Congress's counter — that Sharmistha is seeking relevance within the BJP — is equally self-serving. What this episode actually reveals is how both parties treat deceased leaders as rhetorical assets rather than historical figures deserving careful, documented treatment. Until someone produces the original statement, this remains a political claim, not a settled fact.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sharmistha Mukherjee say about PM Modi and her father?
Sharmistha Mukherjee recalled her late father, former President Pranab Mukherjee, describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as India's first directly elected Prime Minister. The remark triggered sharp reactions from both the BJP, which welcomed it, and the Congress, which disputed it.
How did the BJP respond to Sharmistha Mukherjee's claim?
BJP leaders including Tarun Chugh and Rohan Gupta backed Sharmistha, framing the attributed remark as proof that even senior Congress figures recognised Modi's democratic mandate. They used it to reinforce their narrative that the Congress is run on dynastic lines rather than merit.
Why did the Congress reject Sharmistha Mukherjee's statement?
Congress Spokesperson Surendra Rajput called the claim false and demanded that any such statement by Pranab Mukherjee be produced publicly. He alleged Sharmistha was misquoting her father to gain relevance within the BJP, which he claimed had not given her significant importance since her association with the party.
Who was Pranab Mukherjee and why does his opinion matter politically?
Pranab Mukherjee was a Bharat Ratna awardee who served as India's 13th President from 2012 to 2017 and held senior portfolios in Congress-led governments for decades. He passed away in August 2020. His stature makes any attributed opinion a significant political signal, which is why both parties are contesting this claim.
Is there documentary evidence of Pranab Mukherjee's alleged remark about Modi?
As of the reports on 27 June, no documentary evidence of the statement has been made public. Congress has demanded that such evidence be produced; the BJP and Sharmistha Mukherjee have not cited a specific speech, interview, or written record in the reports available.
