EC issues notice to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge for remark calling PM Modi a ‘terrorist’

The Election Commission on Wednesday sent a show cause notice to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, alleging that he prima facie violated the Model Code of Conduct for the Assembly elections by calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “terrorist” on April 21.

Kharge had made the comment at a press conference in Chennai on the last day of campaigning for the Tamil Nadu elections.

The Congress chief later clarified that he meant to say that the prime minister was “terrorising” the country’s democratic fabric by misusing government machinery, and that he did not refer to him as a terrorist in the literal sense, the Hindustan Times reported.

Election Commission of India takes note of Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge calling PM Narendra Modi a “Terrorist” and issues a notice to Kharge to explain his stand within 24 Hrs

The notice reads, "Whereas, the Commission is prima facie of the opinion that… pic.twitter.com/H7xaWWb6pw— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2026

The Election Commission said on Wednesday that the use of “intemperate and highly objectionable and dehumanising choice of words by a seasoned politician against a constitutional functionary” appeared to be inconsistent with the standards of public discourse and undermined the dignity of democratic institutions.

The poll panel said it was of the preliminary opinion that Kharge had violated provisions of the Model Code of...

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