Kawasi Lakhma, the Congress minister in charge of Commercial Tax (Excise) and Industry in Chhattisgarh, on Tuesday compared the roads in his Konta assembly constituency to the cheeks of actor and BJP MP Hema Malini, drawing condemnation from the opposition BJP.

The remark

Speaking at a programme in the Kurud development block of Dhamtari district, Lakhma said that although Konta was a naxal-affected area, its roads were like Hema Malini’s cheeks. He contrasted them with roads in the Kurud area, which he said were full of potholes because of corruption in their construction.

The comment appeared to be aimed at Ajay Chandrakar, a former minister and senior BJP legislator who represents Kurud. Hema Malini represents Mathura in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha.

BJP reaction

The BJP accused the minister of disrespecting a woman MP and demanded that he apologise. Ramu Rohra, the party’s Dhamtari district president, said the remark reflected the mindset of Congress leaders and called it highly condemnable to say such a thing about a woman MP.

Earlier controversy

This is not the first time Lakhma has drawn criticism. In September he caused a row when he told a schoolboy that to become a big politician he should “grab the collar of SP and Collector”.

See also: Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party.

Originally published on 13 November 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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