'Loved Us, Married Modi': Kharge's Deve Gowda Quip Makes PM Laugh In Rajya Sabha

Last Updated:March 18, 2026, 14:18 IST

Mallikarjun Kharge’s quip referenced the shifting political alliances of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda’s Janata Dal (Secular).

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed rare moments of laughter and bonhomie as Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge delivered a light-hearted farewell speech, cutting through the usually tense exchanges between the treasury and Opposition benches.

Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House, reflected on his long parliamentary journey and the relationships he forged over decades in politics.

His speech drew particular attention when he spoke about former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, whose current term in the Rajya Sabha is coming to an end.

“I have known him for 54 years and worked closely with him," Kharge said, before adding with a smile,

“He dated us, loved us, but married Prime Minister Narendra Modi." The remark sparked laughter across party lines, including from Narendra Modi, who was present in the House.

Kharge’s quip referenced the shifting political alliances of Deve Gowda’s Janata Dal (Secular).

While the Congress had supported Deve Gowda’s United Front government after the 1996 Lok Sabha elections and later partnered with the JD(S) in Karnataka in 2018, the alliance collapsed in 2019 following defections.

The JD(S) subsequently aligned with the BJP, setting the backdrop for Kharge’s humorous dig.

The Congress leader also spoke warmly about Nationalist Congress Party founder Sharad Pawar, whose Rajya Sabha term is ending but who is set to return for another stint, as well as DMK leader Tiruchi Siva. He said he was glad that both leaders would continue their parliamentary innings.

Kharge did not spare Union minister and Republican Party of India (A) chief Ramdas Athawale either, joking that Athawale’s poems invariably praised the Prime Minister.

“He doesn’t know any other poem," Kharge said, drawing smiles from Opposition benches.

Earlier, Modi addressed the House during the farewell session, thanking retiring MPs for their contributions and reiterating that “there is no full stop in politics."

He urged new members to learn from senior leaders such as Deve Gowda, Kharge and Pawar, calling them examples of dedication to parliamentary democracy.

Referring to Athawale, PM Modi added his own touch of humour, saying the House may have seen a decline in satire and wit, “but Athawale is evergreen." The RPI (A) chief is also returning to the Rajya Sabha for another term.

This year, 37 Rajya Sabha seats fell vacant. While 26 members were elected unopposed, the remaining seats were filled through elections held earlier this week, marking another transition moment for the Upper House, one punctuated, briefly, by laughter across party lines.

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