‘Smacks Of Ulterior Motives’: Congress Hits Back At EC Notice Over Kharge Calling PM Modi 'Terrorist'

Last Updated:April 24, 2026, 10:06 IST

Congress criticizes Election Commission notice to Mallikarjun Kharge over terrorist remark, alleges procedural lapses, bias, and seeks more time and a personal hearing

The Congress on Thursday hit back at the Election Commission’s notice to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge over his “terrorist" remark, saying the move “smacks of ulterior motives" and does not point to any violation of the Model Code of Conduct or law.

In a summary response to the poll body, the party also sought a week’s time to submit a detailed reply and said a senior delegation would present its case before the commission.

Congress Questions EC’s Process

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh flagged discrepancies in the notices issued to Kharge. He said two notices with the same reference number were issued on the same date but signed by different officials, raising questions over procedural clarity.

Ramesh also pointed out that one notice cited a complaint by Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien, while another version uploaded on the EC website did not mention the complainant.

‘Casual Approach’ Alleged

The Congress leader alleged that the notices reflected a “casual" approach, claiming they were issued without proper application of mind and based largely on complaints aligned with the ruling party’s narrative.

He also objected to the 24-hour deadline given to Kharge for responding, saying it was inadequate given the Congress president’s ongoing campaign commitments.

Seeks More Time For Reply

The party said Kharge had already clarified his remarks and reiterated its request for more time to submit a comprehensive response.

It also sought an opportunity for a delegation of senior Congress leaders to present their position before the Election Commission.

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