Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda responded to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's 'loved Congress, married Modi' remark, saying he was in a 'forced marriage' with the party and had to take a 'divorce' due to an 'abusive relationship.'
Deve Gowda, the Janata Dal (Secular) supremo, made the statement after Kharge extended well wishes and a jibe over his association with Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) during a farewell speech for retiring Rajya Sabha MPs.
Kharge had taken a veiled 'shaadi (marriage)' dig, indicating that Deve Gowda formed relations with one alliance and went ahead with someone else - PM Modi.
Deve Gowda countered Kharge's remark, stating that he 'loved' Congress but 'married' BJP as he was in a 'forced marriage' with Congress and had to take a 'divorce' due to an 'abusive relationship.'
He recalled how he vouched for Kharge to be the chief minister, but Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad insisted on HD Kumaraswamy's leadership, leading to the party's downfall.
Deve Gowda wrote on X, '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.'
