The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge following controversial remarks made during the final leg of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. In a press conference in Chennai on April 21, 2026, Kharge allegedly referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “terrorist” while criticizing the AIADMK-BJP alliance. Following a formal complaint by a high-level BJP delegation including Nirmala Sitharaman, the ECI flagged the statement as a prima facie violation of the Model Code of Conduct regarding decency in political discourse. While Kharge has since clarified that he meant the Prime Minister was “terrorizing” political opponents through central agencies, the poll body has demanded a formal explanation as the state heads into a high-stakes voting phase.
