Overview
- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who posted on X on Wednesday, said his Kerala rally line was misinterpreted and added that he holds deep respect for Gujaratis.
- The BJP went to the Election Commission on Wednesday seeking an FIR, a show-cause notice to Kharge, and a bar on his campaigning under the Model Code of Conduct, which sets rules for fair election speeches.
- Complaints to police have now been filed in multiple states, including Mandya in Karnataka and Guwahati in Assam, with a fresh filing in Bathinda, Punjab, on Friday over his 'poisonous snake' jibe.
- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s 'speaking like a madman' remark about Kharge drew pushback, including a Thursday protest by the Bihar Congress that demanded an apology.
- The Election Commission has not announced any action, and the BJP broadened its attack on Friday by casting Congress remarks as part of an anti-Gujarat pattern, signaling a continuing fight over rhetoric as votes near.