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Jagdambika Pal took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, saying his party would not be in the opposition if they had listened to his advice.
Pal was in the Chair as Speaker Om Birla said he would not sit in the Chair until the non-confidence motion brought in by the opposition is disposed of. (Photos: Sansad TV)
BJP MP Jagdambika Pal on Wednesday hit back at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi after he took a jibe at the former over his old Congress link.
Gandhi was speaking in the Lower House of Parliament during a general discussion on Budget 2026 while Pal was in the Chair.
After BJP MPs objected to Gandhi’s remark on India-US trade deal, the Chair asked the Congress MP to speak only on the budget.
Gandhi said, “We know you are an ex-member of our party, so I will not be very aggressive today.”
Pal responded: “Why are you mentioning this?”
Gandhi then added, “Because you are ex member of our party.”
Pal said, “I am here as a presiding officer.”
Gandhi further said, “But we like you, sir, and we know your heart is not there. We know your heart is here.”
Pal then took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, saying his party would not be in the opposition if they had listened to his advice.
“Had you agreed to my advice, you would not be sitting there (in the opposition). If you’re sitting there, only because you have not taken my advice,” Pal said.
Later in his speech, Gandhi said, “Sir, you allowed me to speak more today.”
Pal was in the Chair as Speaker Om Birla said he would not sit in the Chair until the non-confidence motion brought in by the opposition is disposed of.
#WATCH | In the Parliament, Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, “You (Jagdambika Pal), are an ex-Congress member, so I will do a special favour today, I will back down… You know we have a fondness for you. We know your heart is not there, your heart is here…”… pic.twitter.com/ZkdDXOv3dY— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2026
Who Is Jagdambika Pal?
Jagdambika Pal joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2014 and has since been winning the Domariyaganj constituency in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar district for three consecutive terms.
He was first elected to the Lok Sabha from the Domariyaganj seat in 2009 on a Congress ticket. Over the years, he has been a three-time legislator and has also served as a minister in Uttar Pradesh. Earlier in his political career, Pal held the position of president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress.
Pal is also known for briefly serving as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for 31 hours in 1998. At the time, he was a leader of the Loktantrik Congress Party (LCP) and was sworn in as Chief Minister by the then Governor, Romesh Bhandari, on the night of 21 February 1998, following the dismissal of the Kalyan Singh government.
February 11, 2026, 14:32 IST
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