Kharge’s son gets EC notice for calling PM Modi ‘nalayak’, BJP MLA show-caused over Sonia ‘vishkanya’ remark

In its notice to Kharge, who is the son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Congress candidate from the Chittapur seat in Kalaburagi district, the EC said it had received a complaint from the BJP on Tuesday regarding his remarks on April 30. The EC said prima facie it believed Kharge, the incumbent MLA from the seat, had violated the MCC provisions against attacks on the personal lives of leaders.

The EC notice to Yatnal, who is the incumbent Bijapur City MLA and candidate, said his speech at an event in Yelburga in Koppal district on April 28 also violated the MCC provisions against attacks on the personal lives of leaders. As per the notice, citing Kharge’s remarks comparing the Prime Minister to a “poisonous snake”, the BJP leader asked: “Is Sonia Gandhi a vishkanya?” Vishakanya means “poison maiden” and refers to young women used as assassins in the past.

Both the BJP and the Congress have submitted several complaints to the poll panel regarding language used by leaders of the other party. On April 28, the BJP submitted a complaint about Kharge’s “poisonous snake” remark while the Congress submitted complaints against Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.