Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's remark — 'Modi ka baap bhi jayega' — made at a party event in Patna on Sunday, 26 October 2025, has triggered a cross-party controversy, with allies Shiv Sena (UBT) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) publicly criticising the language while raising broader questions about the declining standards of political discourse in India.

How the Controversy Unfolded

The incident occurred during a Congress programme in Patna organised to mark the birth anniversary of Bihar's first Chief Minister, Sri Krishna Singh. An audience member reportedly interrupted Kharge's address, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not relinquish power. Kharge's retort — 'Modi ka baap bhi jayega' (Even Modi's father will have to go) — was reportedly repeated several times, setting off immediate political backlash.

Shiv Sena-UBT: 'Unfortunate but a Distraction'

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said the steadily declining standard of language in politics was unfortunate, while simultaneously framing the episode as a deliberate distraction from substantive issues. 'The continuously declining standard of language used by everyone in politics is unfortunate. But at the same time, what are the pressing issues in the country today? The country's issues are inflation, corruption, vote theft, and many challenges faced by the youth that are being ignored. This is once again an issue meant to distract attention,' she said.

Chaturvedi called for restraint across party lines and drew a clear boundary around family members. 'I would repeat that dragging mothers, fathers, sisters, daughters, or children, who have nothing to do with politics, into political matters is completely wrong,' she said.

RJD Calls Out Selective Outrage

RJD Member of Parliament Manoj Jha condemned the language but challenged what he described as uneven indignation. 'No one can support this kind of language. I am observing the outrage, but why is this outrage so selective? When remarks such as 'Congress ki vidhwa', 'Jersey cow', references to the 'mangalsutra', 'they will take away your buffaloes', and 'they will perform mujra' are made, should there not be outrage or anger then?' Jha said.

The RJD MP also referenced an incident in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, where he said a 'pretence of purification' was staged against Kharge himself, arguing that episode generated no comparable public outcry. He urged Parliament to institutionalise the conversation: 'There should be a two-day discussion in Parliament on what the dignity and standards of language used by both the ruling party and the Opposition should be. It cannot be that there is outrage today and silence tomorrow. That does not seem right,' he said, adding that he had already submitted a written request to this effect.

Pattern of Escalating Political Rhetoric

This is not the first time sharp language from senior leaders has ignited controversy during an election season. Critics argue the recurring cycle — provocation, outrage, counter-accusation of selectivity — reflects a deeper erosion of parliamentary norms. Notably, the episode comes as Bihar remains a politically sensitive state heading into the electoral calendar, adding a strategic dimension to what might otherwise be dismissed as a verbal slip.

What Happens Next

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to escalate the controversy in the coming days, while the Congress has not yet issued a formal clarification on Kharge's remarks. Whether the INDIA bloc's internal discomfort translates into a formal call for restraint will be watched closely, particularly as Jha's Parliament petition for a structured debate on political language standards puts pressure on all parties to respond on record.