Flashback 2014: A look at politicians who suffered from foot-in-mouth disease

Bengaluru, Dec 10: 2014 can be considered as a significant year in terms of politics. Not only did the Lok Sabha elections bring back the BJP to power, but the election campaigns too witnessed major mudslinging by politicians.

While some politicians made a huge impact with their statements (Flashback 2014: Narendra Modi's 10 best funny, witty one-liners that made us chuckle), there were some who suffered from foot in the mouth case. Thanks to them and their insensitive statements, not only did they suffer from bouts of embarassment but also became a laughing stock for others.

Here are some Indian politicians, who made the headlines this year with their insensitive, embarrassing and many times funny remarks:

Mani Shankar Aiyar and Narendra Modi

The year began with a bang when Congress's Mani Shankar Aiyar said that 'Narendra Modi can never be the Prime Minister.' Aiyar was attending an AICC meeting when he said: "Modi can never be the PM of our country, but if he wants to distribute tea here, we can find a place for him," in an apparent jibe at Modi's background.

However this statement not only made a fool out of Aiyar but also became BJP's biggest strength during the Lok Sabha election. The BJP cashed on this 'humble and simple' upbringing of Narendra Modi and it is said to be one of the major factor's that worked in Modi's favour during the elections.

Aiyar's statement is likely to haunt the Congress party for decades because not only did the Congress lose the elections, but also lost in many of the assembly elections after this.

Mulayam Singh Yadav and rape controversy

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was heavily criticised when he opposed capital punishement for rape and said: "ladke, ladke hote hain. Galti ho jati hai. Kya rape case mei phasi di jayegi (Boys will be boys, they commit mistakes. Will you hang them if they commit rape)".

Yadav's comments came after Uttar Pradesh witnessed a lot of rape cases and the SP government was heavily criticised for its inaction.

Abu Azmi wants women to be punished in rape cases

Samajwadi Party leader in Maharashtra Abu Azmi too received a lot of flak for his comment on rape cases. Azmi had told a tabloid that 'If a woman is caught in a rape case, then both she and the boy should be punished.

In India there is a death penalty for rape, but when there's consensual sex outside marriage, there's no death penalty against women.'

Shortly after these comments, Azmi's son, Farhan and his daughter-in-law and Bollywood actress Ayesha Takia slammed Azmi's statements and said that they did not endorse such statements against women.

Rahul Gandhi- Modi is Leader of Opposition

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi committed a major faux pas in Oct this year when he was addressing a rally in Maharashtra and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'Opposition Leader.'

Rahul said: "An opposition leader says nothing happened in the last 60 years. Their thinking is that only one man can take the country forward."

However this was not the only goof up the Congress Vice President made this year. Earlier April, Rahul was addressing a rally in Maharashtra during the Lok Sabha election campaign, when he said: "Every two out of one child in Gujarat are malnourished."

Rahul Gandhi said this while describing the Gujarat model of development as a 'toffee model of development'.

Arvind Kejriwal on quitting as Delhi CM

When AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal declared that he would quit as the chief minister of Delhi, it came as a rude shock to the Delhiites who voted for his party.His government lasted for only 49 days and then Kejriwal stepped down from his CM post.

However this move was criticised by eveyone one and at one point people lost faith in him. After his party failed to make an impression in the Lok Sabha polls, Kejriwal accepted his defeat and said: "I made a mistake, I should not have stepped down as the CM.

Many criticised us saying that we had our sights at the Lok Sabha polls. We should have been in Delhi and should have been government for 5 years and then should have thought of contesting elections on a national level."

Kejriwal's statement on accepting his defeat would've embarrassed his party to no limits.

Naresh Agarwal and his sexist rants

Notorious for his sexist rants, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal had evoked outrage in July following the Badaun rape case where two Dalit girls were found hanging from a tree in their village.

It was said that the girls were raped and then hanged. However answering a question Agarwal said: "Today, no one takes away even a domestic animal of other person forcefully. If someone takes a domestic animal forcefully, the animal is also not ready."

Agarwal, who is known for his sexist rants was criticised by many politicians for his statement.

Mamata Banerjee and her threatening jibes

Known for her open threats to the government, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee shocked everyone with her crass remark where she hit out at the CPI(M) at a rally.

Mamata said: "Aren't you proud today that both Darjeeling and Jangalmahal are peaceful? They (the CPM) couldn't do it and now they are trying to give bamboo in the rear to those who managed to do something," she said.

However this is not the first time that she is using such language. At a meeting recently she used the word saala in a veiled attack on BJP much to the embarrassment of others.

Jitan Ram Manjhi questions a woman's morality

Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi has a way with words. After making casteist remarks, Manjhi was speaking at an event on migrant workers and made a statement that enraged a lot of people. Manjhi said: "Everyone knows what these women do as their husbands remain outside after marriage," an apparent reference to migrant workers who travel to other states for work.