Will Modi hang himself if Congress gets 40+ seats: Kharge
What's the story
The 2019 elections will probably go down in history as the one in which civility hit a new low every day. And this time, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge is to be blamed.
On Sunday, Kharge asked whether PM Modi would hang himself if Congress gets more than 40 seats in Lok Sabha polls.
His statement triggered a row and was duly criticized.
Statement
Stung by PM Modi's predictions, Kharge made controversial remarks
Kharge was addressing a rally to support Subash Rathod, the Congress candidate for the Chincholi Assembly by-poll.
He told the crowd PM Modi kept predicting Congress would perform poorly.
"Wherever he (Modi) goes, he keeps saying Congress will not win 40 seats. Do you believe that? If Congress gets more than 40 seats, will Modi hang himself at Vijay Chowk in Delhi," Kharge asked.
Details
Kharge dismissed PM Modi's claims that Congress didn't do anything
To recall, Congress had won 44 seats in the last parliamentary elections.
Kharge went on to say that PM Modi wasn't even born when India got independence. "He keeps speaking against Congress and claims the party did not do anything," the senior leader said.
He said PM Modi claimed that he belonged to the backward community but helped the super-rich.
Twitter Post
Kharge's words were bound to spark a controversy
Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress in Kalaburagi: Wherever he goes, Modi keeps saying that Congress will not win 40 seats. Do you believe that? If Congress gets more than 40 seats, will Modi hang himself at Delhi's Vijay Chowk? pic.twitter.com/ti3uPIYqlV
— ANI (@ANI) May 12, 2019
Reactions
BJP leaders slammed Kharge for his adverse words
Subsequently, senior BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje demanded an apology from Kharge. She said she never expected such comments from a senior politician.
"Blatant lies, fake allegations, derogatory remarks have become common with hollow Congress, nothing progressive! He should apologize!" Karandlaje tweeted.
Similarly, Amit Malviya, the social media head of BJP, said Congress will hail its president Rahul Gandhi if the party crosses 44-mark.
Twitter Post
Here is what Amit Malviya tweeted
Why is Mallikarjun Kharge so upset with PM Modi for suggesting that Congress may not win even 40 seats, someone asked?
— Chowkidar Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 12, 2019
Because Congress plans to hail Rahul Gandhi as a political genius if the Congress manages anything more than 44 and a number of 40 simply ruins that plan... https://t.co/yrvAdcQZKj
Looking back
Last week, Kharge opined PM Modi didn't have any 'sanskar'
Just last week, Kharge hit out at PM Modi over his "corrupt number 1" remark. He had called Rajiv Gandhi corrupt saying only his fans saw him as a good man.
"He did not get sanskar at home as he had fled home at a young age. Where will he get it? People should have control over their tongue when speaking," Kharge had said.
By-polls
The by-polls will take place on May 19
Notably, Chincholi, along with Kundgol Assembly constituency, will go into by-polls on May 19.
The by-polls were necessitated after sitting member Umesh Jadhav quit Congress to join BJP. He is contesting Lok Sabha polls from Gulbarga.
On the other hand, Kundgol was vacated after its MLA C S Shivalli passed away. Congress has fielded Shivalli's wife from his constituency.