Deve Gowda on Kharge's marriage with Modi quip: Had abusive relation with Congress

UPDATED: Mar 18, 2026 20:26 IST

Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal Secular (JDS) chief HD Deve Gowda on Tuesday hit back at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over a light-hearted remark in Parliament, saying he was in a “forced marriage” with the Congress and had to “divorce” it due to an “abusive relationship”.

In a statement posted on X, Gowda referred to Kharge’s comment that he had once been in “love” with the Congress but eventually “married” the BJP. Responding in the same metaphorical tone, the Janata Dal (Secular) leader said, “If I were to respond in the same language of marriage, I would like to say that I was in a ‘forced marriage’ with the Congress but had to ‘divorce’ them because it was an abusive relationship.”

Gowda clarified that he was not present in the House when Kharge made the remark, as he had travelled to Bengaluru for Ugadi celebrations.

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