A video clip of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge allegedly waiting outside the room during Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s nomination filing in Wayanad has sparked a political spat between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. In the viral video, Kharge is seen standing at the door while Priyanka Gandhi completes her nomination paperwork.
Several BJP leaders, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya, criticized the Congress, accusing the party of disrespecting Kharge, a veteran Dalit leader. Sarma took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disappointment, suggesting that the Congress leadership was “humiliating” Kharge, claiming he was treated like a “rubber stamp” by the party.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar echoed the sentiment, questioning Kharge’s exclusion from the room and arguing that it demonstrated the Congress’s disregard for its senior leaders. Amit Malviya also seized the moment to question whether Kharge’s Dalit identity played a role in his being kept outside the nomination room.
In response, the Congress swiftly countered the accusations. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate dismissed the BJP’s claims as “lies,” explaining that the limited number of people allowed in the room during the nomination process was the reason for Kharge’s temporary wait. She shared photos of Kharge seated with senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi to refute the claims of disrespect.
Shrinate also hit back at BJP leaders on social media, calling out their “lies” and accusing them of trying to create false narratives. She challenged them to look at the photos before spreading misinformation and labeled Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s comments as “buffoonery.”
The BJP-Congress clash over the video has added to the ongoing political tensions as both parties continue to trade barbs over the issue.