Thiruvananthapuram: Repeated electoral defeats have pushed the Congress into a state of frustration, political confusion and disorder, BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleged on Monday. He said personal attacks by Congress leaders against Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflected the party’s political culture. Chandrasekhar made the remarks while addressing a press conference at Mararji Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram.
He said India had been progressing along a path of development under Modi’s leadership over the past 12 years, while Congress leaders and workers had continued to target the Prime Minister personally. He questioned who was encouraging such political rhetoric within the party. Chandrasekhar criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his reported remark against Modi, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega”, describing it as inappropriate for a senior political leader.
He said language resembling street-level abuse coming from the head of one of India’s oldest political parties reflected what he termed the Congress’s political decline. He also referred to Kharge’s earlier description of Modi as a “poisonous snake”. The BJP leader said those who should be urging people to respect the Prime Minister were instead leading personal attacks against him. Chandrasekhar also cited Rahul Gandhi’s slogan, “Chowkidar Chor Hai”, and the “Maut Ka Saudagar” remark made by Sonia Gandhi against Modi in 2007, alleging that they reflected the same pattern of personal attacks.
He questioned what could be expected from party workers when such language was allegedly encouraged by the Congress’s senior leadership. While acknowledging that repeated election defeats could cause frustration within the Congress, Chandrasekhar said electoral setbacks could not justify personal insults against the country’s Prime Minister. He added that he was making his remarks while maintaining respect for Kharge, but argued that concerns about the Congress’s political future should not be expressed through attacks on Modi.
Chandrasekhar asserted that political theatrics and personal attacks by the Congress would not derail the development agenda under Modi’s leadership. He said India would continue working towards the goal of a developed nation and governance focused on addressing people’s concerns, adding that the government’s development efforts had public support.
The BJP state president urged the Congress leadership to put an end to what he described as a politics of personal attacks and intolerance. He said people expected responsible political parties to engage in constructive debate and discuss policies rather than resort to derogatory remarks.
