A political row has erupted between the BJP and the grand old party over allegations regarding treatment given to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s recent nomination filing in Wayanad. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal dismissed BJP claims on Thursday, asserting that Kharge was indeed present during the event.
Venugopal clarified that while Rahul and Sonia Gandhi briefly waited outside due to locked doors, Kharge remained present throughout, accusing the BJP of “spreading lies” and “targeting” Kharge.
Former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai had commented on Friday that he has “witnessed such incidents many times, publicly.” Bommai praised Kharge as a “big leader” in Karnataka, emphasising the BJP’s respect for him, despite political differences. “We respect him. Even though he is in Congress, he is our leader,” Bommai said.
BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan also expressed disapproval, describing Kharge’s alleged treatment by Congress as “appalling” and suggesting it demonstrated “disdain” for a senior Dalit leader.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused Congress of “untouchability” practices within its ranks, saying, “Inside (Congress), Dalits are insulted. Within the party, Dalits are treated as third-class citizens.”
The incident took place during Priyanka Gandhi’s nomination filing at the district collector’s office in Kalpetta on Wednesday, after a roadshow with Rahul Gandhi.
The by-poll for the Wayanad seat, vacated by Rahul Gandhi after retaining the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat, is scheduled for November 13.
In a broader criticism, Bommai accused the current Karnataka Congress government of being “anti-people, non-performing, and corrupt,” adding that the public remembers the BJP’s tenure as a period of “development and social justice.” He expressed confidence that the NDA would secure all three by-poll seats in the upcoming elections.
