Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, warning that if the BJP returns to power, democracy and the Constitution will be at risk. Speaking at election rallies in Odisha, Kharge expressed concerns about the reservation policy for SC, ST, and OBCs and highlighted issues like high unemployment rates and vacant government posts. He questioned Modi’s unfulfilled promises and accused him of neglecting important issues. Kharge also criticized the BJP’s Gujarat model and alleged an alliance between the BJP and BJD in Odisha. He advised Naveen Patnaik to maintain distance from the BJP.