Maharashtra Congress backlash over gungi gudiya comment

A political controversy erupted in Maharashtra on August 4, 2026, after the state Congress party referred to Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar as a "gungi gudiya" or mute doll, drawing sharp condemnation from her party and allies and sparking a debate over political discourse and historical parallels.

The dispute originated from a social media post by the Maharashtra Congress on August 3, which included a video from a press conference. In the footage, Nationalist Congress Party leader Dhananjay Munde was seen interrupting a journalist who was attempting to ask Pawar about the law and order situation in Beed district, where she serves as the guardian minister. Pawar did not respond before leaving. Accompanying the video, the Congress wrote, "Sunetra Pawar, how many more days will she remain a gungi gudiya?"

The comment prompted swift backlash from the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the opposition of stooping to a "very low level" merely to gain publicity and headlines, stating such tactics were not part of Maharashtra's political culture. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who leads the Shiv Sena, condemned the remark as an insult not only...