Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said BJP leaders are competing with each other to take a dip in Ganga at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, adding, "Taking a dip in Ganga won't help remove poverty." "[However] I don't want to hurt anyone's 'aastha'," Kharge stated. Several BJP leaders including Home Minister Amit Shah, UP CM Yogi Adityanath have taken dips at Sangam.