File photo of Congress MLA Nana Patole | Photo credit: PTI
Maharashtra Congress leader Nana Patole on Thursday (January 1, 2026) drew flak for his statement comparing Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi to Lord Ram, saying he was doing the work of Lord Ram, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed him for flattering its leader.
“Rahul Gandhi is doing the same work as Lord Ram, working for the vulnerable, oppressed and marginalized people. He is traveling across the country, trying to understand people and doing Lord Ram’s work instead of clicking pictures and showing off,” Mr Patole said when asked why Mr Gandhi did not visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The statement sparked a political debate and the BJP called him a sycophant. Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar called his words “unfortunate” and said, “No one takes him seriously. Sri Ram is our deity; he cannot be compared with anyone. So the public will teach him a lesson in the upcoming elections.”
NCP MP Sunil Dattatray Tatkare also slammed Mr Patole for making such statements, calling it “irresponsible” and probably the fallout of mutual electoral defeat, while Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya said, “This is condescension, that person has no idea about Lord Ram and there can be no comparison between Shri Ram and Rahul”.
However, this was not the first time that Mr. Patole made an analogy comparing Lord Ram and Mr. Gandhi. He also made a similar statement three years ago. Mr. Patola’s statement also outraged political leaders at the Center and other states.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat took a shot at the Congress and said that it was the party that had lost its identity and they were the same people who filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court that Lord Ram was an imaginary person. Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) president Tej Pratap Yadav from Bihar said, “There is a huge difference between God and man, so no comparison can be made here. Congress thinks they are God, but that cannot happen.”
Meanwhile, Congress leaders have come in support saying that the BJP wants to divert the public from the real issues, so they make a fuss out of anything. “All they are doing is that Mandir-Masjid, Hindu-Muslims are pitting one state against another. Such mindset of BJP will get proper response from public in elections,” Congress leader Aslam Sheikh said. NCP-SP Rajya Sabha member Fauzia Khan said, “Lord Ram was a symbol of justice and Ram Rajya means treating with equality…and every person in the country who does not spread hatred, who does not give the message of love and unity, is heading towards Ram Rajya”.
Published – 01 January 2026 20:00 IST
