Assembly Elections 2026 LIVE: Kharge accuses PM Modi of terrorising political parties, people by misusing govt machinery

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday stepped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of “terrorising” political parties and people by misusing government machinery and central agencies to stifle the Opposition.

Addressing a press conference in Chennai alongside AICC general secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal, Mr. Kharge initially referred to the Prime Minister as a “terrorist” while criticising the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP.

However, when pressed by reporters to clarify the context of the remark, the Congress chief stated he meant the Prime Minister was “terrorising” the democratic fabric of the country.

“He is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist (in the literal sense). Terrorising this… he is misusing his power and government machinery and abusing, malingering opposition parties,” Mr. Kharge said.

The Congress chief alleged that the Election Commission has become an “extension of the BJP office” and accused the Prime Minister of violating the Model Code of Conduct in the final stages of the election campaign. He further claimed that central agencies like the CBI, ED, and Income Tax department were being deployed as tools of intimidation against political workers.

-PTI