Kharge calls people of Gujarat illiterate in Keralam poll rally

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday made an apparent controversial statement, during his assembly poll campaign speech in Keralam, calling the people of Gujarat as "illterate" who, according to him were being "fooled" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.He said that leaders of the BJP and the ruling Left Democratic Front should not misguide the people of the state. "Don't misguide the people of Keralam. They are very clever, they are educated. Modi ji, Vijay (Pinarayi Vijayan), you both can fool people who are illiterate in Gujarat or in other places, but you can't fool Keralam people," he said. Kharge alleged collusion between the BJP and the CPI(M) in the Keralam assembly polls.

VIDEO | Keralam elections: Speaking in Idukki, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) says, "Don't misguide the people of Keralam, they are very clever, they are educated, Modiji, Vijay, you both can fool people who are illiterate, in Gujarat, and in other place, but you… pic.twitter.com/LNqrKtHAgU

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 5, 2026

Kharge accused the LDF government of corruption and scandals including gold smuggling case. He alleged that tea and cardamom workers in Keralam are suffering and many tea land owners are shutting down their businesses in this area. "The LDF government had promised financial support to tea planters, but once they came to power, they forgot it. Also, because of new exploitative labour laws, the workers are not getting proper facilities from the owners. We promise better wages, timely benefits and dignity for every worker in Keralam," he said. Keralam will go to the polls on April 9 and results will be declared on May 4.