Deve Gowda Hits Back at Kharge’s “Marriage” Jab

New Delhi, March 19, 2026: The Rajya Sabha witnessed a rare moment of wit and metaphorical sparring on Wednesday as former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge traded barbs using the analogy of a “troubled marriage.”

The “Married to Modi” Jab

The exchange began during a farewell ceremony for retiring members of the Upper House. Mallikarjun Kharge, while reflecting on his 54-year-long association with the JD(S) patriarch, took a humorous swipe at the recent shift in Karnataka’s political alliances.

Addressing the House in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge remarked:

“I have known Deve Gowda ji for more than 54 years. He shared his love and affection with us, but he tied the knot with Mr. Modi. I don’t know how you interpret it—Mohabbat hamare saath kiye, shaadi Modi sahab ke saath (He loved us, but married Modi).”

The comment triggered waves of laughter across the treasury and opposition benches, with Prime Minister Modi himself seen sharing a light-hearted laugh at the analogy.

Deve Gowda’s “Abusive Relationship” Riposte

Deve Gowda, who was not present in the House as he had traveled to Bengaluru for Ugadi celebrations, took to social media platform X to issue a detailed and pointed rebuttal. Adopting Kharge’s marriage metaphor, the former Prime Minister characterized the past JD(S)-Congress alliance as a “forced” and “abusive” union.

“If I were to respond to my friend in the same language of marriage, I would like to say that I was in a ‘forced marriage’ with the Congress but had to ‘divorce’ them because it was an abusive relationship,” Deve Gowda stated.

Key Revelations in the Response:

• The 2018 Conflict: Gowda recalled that in 2018, the Congress sent Ghulam Nabi Azad to offer the Chief Minister’s post to his son, H.D. Kumaraswamy. Gowda claimed he initially opposed this and suggested that Kharge himself should be made the Chief Minister.
• Betrayal Allegations: He accused the Congress of “dumping” the JD(S) after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and failing to act against internal leaders who allegedly instigated defections to the BJP.
• A “Stable” Future: Defending his current alliance with the BJP-led NDA, Gowda asserted that he did not desert the Congress; rather, the Congress’s own actions left him no choice but to seek a more “stable partnership.”

Context of the Rivalry

The exchange highlights the complex history of Karnataka politics, where the JD(S) has frequently acted as a kingmaker. After years of alternating between the Congress and the BJP, the JD(S) officially joined the NDA in late 2023.

While the tone in Parliament remained cordial and humorous, the underlying message from both veteran leaders underscored the deep-seated political shifts ahead of the upcoming electoral cycles.