Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge has suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence at cricket matches is a bad omen for the Indian team, claiming that the team's chances improve when the PM stays away from the stadium.
Kharge made the remarks in response to reports that Modi is unlikely to attend Sunday's ICC T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
"It's a good thing, India may win. Whenever he (Modi) has been inside the stadium, we have lost. I am not saying this without data — you can check for yourselves. Whenever he has watched the match, we have lost. He even replaced Sardar Patel's name with his own, but the game didn't change, only the name did," Kharge said at a press conference.
The minister also criticized the Modi-led Union government for what he described as misplaced priorities. He noted that while Modi finds time to meet newlywed celebrities, he has not made any statement regarding the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena by an American nuclear submarine in the Indian Ocean on March 4.
Kharge pointed out that Modi had met the newly married Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda and had wished the Indian cricket team well before matches, but did not acknowledge the sinking incident.
Kharge is not the first political figure to link Modi's presence at matches with bad luck. Several leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, have suggested that the PM brings misfortune to the team.
Earlier this week, Rajya Sabha MP Hussain Dalwai recommended that the final be held in Mumbai rather than Ahmedabad. "Playing there, keep in mind that Modi is unlucky. We have already lost once. Is it necessary to repeat the same experience?" he remarked.
Modi had previously watched the 2023 ODI World Cup final at the same stadium, where India, despite a dominant tournament, suffered defeat to Australia. Following the loss, Gandhi referred to Modi as "Panauti" — a Hindi term for someone who brings bad luck — during a rally in Balotra, Rajasthan. He explained, "Our boys were doing well and would have won the World Cup, but this Panauti made them lose." The remark went viral on social media, with the Congress party using it to criticize Modi.
Other political leaders have echoed similar sentiments. A key aide to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Shravan Kumar, had previously said that Modi brings bad luck and should avoid auspicious occasions. Even West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized Modi for "forcing the final" to be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium instead of more traditional venues like Eden Gardens in Kolkata or Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, noting that the Indian team performed excellently throughout the tournament except in matches attended by the PM.
