BJP Demands Apology After Kharge Calls Modi Illegal

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge sparked a political confrontation after labeling Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and various chief ministers as illegal. Speaking in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, Kharge asserted that the entire country is being run on illegal elections and demanded the dissolution of the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies. He called for fresh polls conducted via ballot papers, alleging irregularities in electoral rolls and claiming current laws prevent inquiries into mistakes made by Election Commissioners.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju condemned the remarks as an insult to the Indian Constitution and the mandate of 140 crore citizens. Chouhan attributed the statements to a defeatist mindset and argued that returning to paper ballots would risk a return to booth capturing and election violence. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi further questioned the legality of Kharge's own election as party president.

The dispute coincides with reports of internal objections among Election Commissioners regarding technology systems and electoral rolls. In response, the INDIA bloc is organizing a nationwide campaign against the Election Commission of India, with protests planned for October 6 and a major rally in New Delhi on November 1.