Stand-up comedian Pulkit Mani has become the centre of a political controversy after a mimicry act involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi was performed during Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Chhatron Ki Goonj event in Indore.
The incident, which took place on September 19, 2026, has triggered a sharp exchange between the Congress and BJP, while Mani has also announced cancellations of several upcoming shows in Uttar Pradesh.
What happened at Rahul Gandhi’s event?
During the student outreach programme in Indore, Mani joined Rahul Gandhi on stage and performed an act mimicking PM Modi. A video shared by Congress showed the comedian interacting with Gandhi while adopting mannerisms associated with the Prime Minister.
The performance quickly drew criticism from BJP leaders, who questioned the appropriateness of the act at a political event.
My friend!! Great Harassment!! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/PqetUPxUWp
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 19, 2026
Union ministers and BJP leaders publicly criticised the Congress over the episode, with several describing the performance as inappropriate political entertainment.
Who is Pulkit Mani?
Pulkit Mani is a stand-up comedian known for impersonations, political satire and commentary on current affairs. He has been performing stand-up since 2021 and has built a significant audience on social media.
Before pursuing comedy professionally, Mani reportedly worked as a French teacher in Noida and also undertook translation work.
BJP reacts to the performance
The mimicry act prompted strong reactions from BJP leaders. Union minister Piyush Goyal criticised the episode and questioned Gandhi’s decision to participate in what he described as political theatre.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju also criticised the Congress event, while BJP leader Smriti Irani reacted to the controversy on social media.
The BJP’s response has focused on the use of a Prime Minister’s impersonation during a Congress-led public programme and what party leaders described as the tone of the performance.
Pulkit Mani’s Uttar Pradesh shows cancelled
The controversy took another turn when Mani announced that several of his upcoming shows in Uttar Pradesh had been cancelled.
According to his social media statements, his Noida, Lucknow and Kanpur shows were called off. Mani said the Noida event was cancelled because of unforeseen circumstances. He later alleged that repeated threats were behind the cancellations of the Lucknow and Kanpur performances.
The claims about threats were made by Mani himself, and the available reports do not establish an independent finding about who made the alleged threats.
Political controversy continues
The Pulkit Mani controversy has now moved beyond the comedy performance itself, bringing questions around political satire, public performances and the use of impersonation in political settings into the spotlight.
While BJP leaders have criticised the act, the incident has also brought renewed attention to Mani’s comedy career and upcoming performances.
For now, the comedian’s cancelled Uttar Pradesh shows remain one of the immediate consequences reported following the Indore event, while the political reactions continue to circulate online.
