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.