All India Congress Committee President and Leader of Opposition (Rajya Sabha) Mallikarjun Kharge, addressing the press conference along with K.C. Venugopal, MP and General Secretary (Organisation), Girish Chodankar, Incharge Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and TNCC President K. Selvaperunthagai in Chennai on April 22, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
Clarifying his earlier remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday (April 21, 2026) said that he did not call the Prime Minister “a terrorist” but spoke about the victimisation of political opponents by the Modi Government. Mr. Kharge alleged that the Prime Minister “is terrorising politicians” and “tax terrorism is happening”.
“I did not speak against the PM. The Prime Minister is terrorising politicians and candidates, and regarding this, I said that tax terrorism is happening, ED, the Income Tax department, and the CBI are conducting raids, this terrorism is being facilitated by the PM. I did not call him a terrorist he is scaring people. He is trying to silence people through raids and attempting to defeat them in elections. This is what I said in Chennai,” he told ANI.
Also Read: ‘Didn’t call PM Modi a terrorist,’ Kharge clarifies remarks; accuses him of ‘terrorising’ political opponent
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that the commission denied her permission for a public meeting in the Collin Lane area, while prioritising the meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi within six hours. While addressing a public meeting in Jorasanko Assembly Constituency, Ms. Banerjee said, “I had a meeting scheduled in the Collin Lane area. If a political party had been holding a meeting there, and I hadn’t been granted permission. I wouldn’t have given it a second thought. But, I was explicitly told (by the Election Commission), ‘We will not grant you permission.’ You denied permission for my meeting, yet you prioritise the Prime Minister’s meeting within six hours.”
Also Read: It’s all drama: Mamata on PM making pit stop to buy ‘jhalmuri’ during Bengal poll campaign
Campaigning ended for the first phase of the assembly election in West Bengal on Tuesday (April 22, 2026) with political parties giving a strong push to their campaign on 152 seats where voters will exercise their franchise on April 23. The polling will decide the electoral fate of 1, 478 candidates. The poll battle saw sharp exchanges between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP. Congress and CPI-M, who had allied in the last assembly polls, are fighting separately.
April 22, 2026 10:01
Divided by the river and united by SIR: Mothabari and Samserganj vote amidst high voter deletions
It is the mighty river Ganga which divides West Bengal the state into north Bengal and south Bengal. The constituencies of Mothabari in Malda and Samserganj in Murshidabad are located on opposite banks of the river but are united by the deletions during Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Divided by the river and united by SIR: Mothabari and Samserganj vote amidst high voter deletions
In central Bengal, Mothabari and Samserganj face high voter deletions, river erosion, and communal tensions ahead of elections.
April 22, 2026 08:46
‘Didn’t call PM Modi a terrorist,’ Kharge clarifies remarks; accuses him of ‘terrorising’ political opponent
Clarifying his earlier remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday (April 21, 2026) said that he did not call the Prime Minister “a terrorist” but spoke about the victimisation of political opponents by the Modi Government.
‘Didn’t call PM Modi a terrorist,’ Kharge clarifies remarks; accuses him of ‘terrorising’ political opponent
Mallikarjun Kharge clarifies he did not label PM Modi a terrorist, but accuses him of terrorizing political opponents and institutions.
April 22, 2026 08:45
ECI denies rally permission to Mamata Banerjee in Bhawanipore ahead of Assembly Polls
In a significant development ahead of the West Bengal Assembly Elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has denied permission for a proposed rally by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhawanipore, triggering a sharp reaction from the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
The decision comes just days before the first phase of polling scheduled for April 23, with Bhawanipore among the constituencies going to vote.
“How can the ECI deny me permission in my own constituency? There are no other rallies scheduled there,” Ms. Banerjee said, alleging discriminatory treatment.
Published - April 22, 2026 09:30 am IST
