Cong chief Kharge calls people of Gujarat 'illiterate' in Kerala poll rally
Politics 05 Apr, 2026

Cong chief Kharge calls people of Gujarat 'illiterate' in Kerala poll rally

Business To Business, Kochi, 05 April 2026:  Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday sparked controversy with remarks made during an election campaign speech, where he appeared to contrast voters in different states.

  • Suggested that people in Kerala are “very clever and educated” and cannot be misled
  • Claimed that leaders like Narendra Modi and Pinarayi Vijayan cannot “fool” Kerala’s electorate
  • In contrast, made a remark implying that people in Gujarat and elsewhere are “illiterate” and could be misled
  • The statement has drawn criticism for being derogatory towards voters of Gujarat
  • It may trigger political backlash, especially from the BJP
  • Such remarks often become a key issue in election campaigns, with opponents using them to question a leader’s stance
The comments came amid ongoing campaign speeches, where leaders are:
  • Trying to mobilise regional pride and voter identity
  • Targeting rivals with sharp rhetoric
  • Positioning their parties as better representatives of voters’ interests
The remarks are likely to intensify political exchanges between the Congress and BJP in the coming days.

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