Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge defended his father, Congress AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, after the senior leader rebuked party workers on June 22, 2026 [1].
The incident highlights internal tensions within the Congress party and the leadership's effort to enforce stricter accountability among its grassroots members.
The dispute began when Mallikarjun Kharge publicly criticized party workers, describing them as "useless fellows" [2]. This rebuke sparked a reaction from political opponents and within the party ranks, prompting the Karnataka minister to speak out in support of the party president.
Speaking in Bengaluru, Priyank Kharge said that the party possesses the authority to manage its own internal affairs. "We have the right to discipline our own party workers," he said [3]. He further emphasized the hierarchy of the organization, noting that "the party president can pull up anyone" [4].
Kharge also addressed the Bharatiya Janata Party's reaction to the internal friction. He said to the opposition to "worry about your own party, not Congress's" [5]. This response aimed to deflect external criticism by framing the rebuke as a standard matter of organizational discipline rather than a sign of instability.
The minister's defense underscores a familial and political alignment in the face of public scrutiny. By framing the "angry outburst" as a necessary act of discipline, the Kharge family is positioning the party president's actions as an exercise of legitimate authority, an effort to ensure party workers meet the expectations of the leadership.
“"The party president can pull up anyone."”
This exchange reflects the ongoing struggle within the Congress party to balance internal discipline with the need for unity. By publicly defending the party president's right to rebuke workers, Priyank Kharge is signaling that the leadership will not tolerate inefficiency, even at the risk of appearing harsh to the public or political rivals.
