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NDTV
11 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
After Maharashtra, Rahul Gandhi's Electoral Theft In Madhya Pradesh Claim
Bhopal: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged electoral theft in Madhya Pradesh, a month after he accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating a "match-fixing" in the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections. In a fiery-charged virtual address at the Congress's Nav Sankalp Shivir in Madhya Pradesh's Mandu, Mr Gandhi also questioned the credibility of the Maharashtra elections and claimed that over one crore new voters mysteriously appeared in the voter rolls. "Let me say this without a shadow of doubt, Maharashtra's election was stolen. The Election Commission is helping the BJP in full capacity," he charged, alleging institutional bias at the highest levels. जननायक श्री @RahulGandhi जी आज मांडव में जारी नव संकल्प शिविर में वर्चुअल माध्यम से जुड़े और सभी विधायकगणों को संबोधित किया. — MP Congress (@INCMP) July 21, 2025 Drawing a parallel to his party's experience in Madhya Pradesh, Mr Gandhi added, "I believe the last Madhya Pradesh election was stolen too, not once, but repeatedly. Just like Maharashtra. We must stay vigilant." In the 2023 assembly elections, the BJP bagged 163 of the 230 seats to retain power in the central state. The Congress could manage 66 assembly segments. The BJP also swept the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh by winning all 29 seats in the state. Mr Gandhi also alleged a systemic suppression of the backward and marginalised communities. "The Congress must fight for 95% of India's population, Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, minorities, and the poor from the general category. We must become their voice," he said. He also emphasised unity and mutual respect within the party, urging cadres to learn from the experience of senior leaders and to carry the Congress's message of caste census to every household. Reiterating the party's stand on caste-based census, he declared, "If Congress forms the government in Madhya Pradesh, we will immediately carry out a caste census. We will ensure proportional representation for Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, and women in government jobs." He also questioned the BJP's resistance to caste-based data. "Why is the BJP afraid of data? Why does the RSS oppose the caste census? Because within that data lies the truth, the truth of exploitation of Dalits, backwards classes, and even the poor among the general category." He cited the Telangana caste survey as a model and pledged to implement similar surveys in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh when the Congress forms a government. "I've said this in Parliament, we will break down the 50% reservation wall. The RSS and BJP are scared now. They once boasted of getting 400 seats to change the Constitution. But it was Congress, through Bharat Jodo Yatra and Nyay Yatra, that forced them to talk about caste census," he said.
The Print
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Less US & UK, more Bihar & Gujarat, Rahul 2.0 is on a grassroots sprint with a packed schedule
However, the last few months have signalled a shift. Rahul's schedule—marked by frequent visits to states, meetings with the party's frontal organisations, efforts to revive the district units, holding reviews of the performance of Pradesh Congress Committees – has been packed. For much of his political life, Rahul has battled the perception of being a reluctant or a 'non-serious politician'. The label, coined by his political opponents, was echoed by some within his own Congress party, frustrated by his lack of a consistent approach. New Delhi: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was in Kerala Friday. The day before, he travelled to Assam. On Wednesday, he spent a few hours in Lucknow. Earlier in the week, Rahul met with Congress leaders from Jharkhand and Bihar in New Delhi. Last week, he was in Patna and Bhubaneswar, following a meeting with the Gujarat unit in the capital. At a public meeting in April last year at Jawahar Bhavan in New Delhi, Rahul, for the first time, addressed the criticism directly. 'They say I'm not serious, I'm not interested in politics. Land Acquisition Bill, MNREGA, Niyamgiri, Bhatta Parsaul are not serious? When people talk about the larger population, they deem us non-serious. When you don't have the loudspeaker in hand, everything that you say is non-serious,' he told the audience. VIDEO | Here's what Rahul Gandhi said addressing Samajik Nyay Sammelan in Delhi. "They say I'm not serious, I'm not interested in politics. Land Acquisition Bill, MNREGA, Niyamgiri, Bhatta Parsaul are not serious. When people talk about the larger population they deem us… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 24, 2024 This was essentially an attempt to frame his early years in politics through an ideological lens, projecting him as an outsider within the establishment. But the criticism he faced over the years was less about a lack of ideological commitment, and more about the perception that he was unavailable or unresponsive to his own party workers. Rahul's repeated retreats from the public eye, his foreign visits, and his appearances mainly during elections, following the Congress's defeat in the 2014 elections only reinforced that image. The 4,000-km Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir in 2022–23 marked a clear departure from that pattern, helping recast him as a more serious political figure. He followed it up with the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipur to Maharashtra in early 2024. Yet, not everyone was convinced of his ability to revive the Congress's moribund organisational machinery, especially in the states, in the absence of an effort to connect with the provincial leaderships. 'Be it Bharat Jodo Yatra or Bhatta Parsaul, those campaigns helped Rahul Gandhi project himself as a committed, ideological political leader whose heart beats for the people. But he was still seen as someone uninterested in organisational affairs, inaccessible to leaders outside. That has somewhat changed now,' a Congress Lok Sabha MP told ThePrint. A look at Rahul's engagements from the beginning of this year reveals a gradual uptick in his visible involvement in the Congress's organisational affairs. When asked about the noticeable change in Rahul's approach, Congress general secretary (organisation) told ThePrint that the party leadership's visits to the states are now being planned differently than in the past. 'Earlier, we used to go to a state, address a public rally and return. That approach has now changed. Now wherever Rahul Gandhi goes, we arrange his meetings with senior leaders of the state, MPs, MLAs. Then there's one public programme before returning to Delhi. The same model is followed for Congress President Kharge too. We have been to nine to 10 states and the rest will also be covered,' Venugopal said. For Rahul, while January was largely devoted to campaigning for the Delhi polls, he visited Bihar in February, his first of six visits to the poll-bound state so far this year. In February, he also spent two days in his Lok Sabha constituency Rae Bareli, attending seven public events. In March, he landed in Ahmedabad for a two-day visit that he began by holding a meeting with the Political Affairs Committee of the Gujarat Congress unit, a practice that he's since followed in nearly every state. LIVE: Addressing Congress Workers | Ahmedabad, Gujarat — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 8, 2025 It is in Gujarat that the Congress rolled out its ambitious plan to restructure its district units, in an effort to place them at the centre of the party's larger efforts to reclaim lost political ground. Venugopal said '70 per cent of the party's problems will be solved' if the project to revamp the district units, launched in a year that the Congress has announced will of organisational strengthening, becomes a success. He said previously district presidents were appointed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) by going through lists of names recommended by the state in-charges and presidents. 'Now, names are being shortlisted by AICC and PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) observers after holding consultations with at least 5,000 to 6,000 people in every district. Of course, the final call will be that of the AICC. New Gujarat district presidents have been announced. Likewise, lists will be out for Madhya Pradesh and Haryana within this month,' Venugopal said. Venugopal said one objective behind Rahul's meetings with state leaderships is also to gather feedback about the ongoing restructuring of the organisation. In April, the Gandhi scion visited Bihar, Gujarat for the second time, Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. On 7 April, apart from participating in public events including a 'Samvidhan Suraksha Sammelan', Rahul also met senior leaders and district presidents of the party's unit in Bihar. In Gujarat, again on a two-day visit, he formally launched the project to revamp the district units and addressed an orientation programme for the observers appointed for this purpose. पहलगाम में हुए कायरतापूर्ण आतंकी हमले में शहीद हुए शुभम द्विवेदी के परिजनों से आज मुलाक़ात कर उन्हें सांत्वना दी। इस दुःखद घड़ी में पूरा देश शोकाकुल परिवारों के साथ खड़ा है। आतंकियों के ख़िलाफ़ सख्त और ठोस कार्रवाई होनी चाहिए और पीड़ित परिवारों को न्याय मिलना चाहिए। इसी… — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 30, 2025 Later that month, he travelled to Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to meet those injured in the Pahalgam terror attack. On 26 April, he took part in the Bharat Summit organised by the Congress government in Telangana. Three days later, he landed in Rae Bareli again and attended a series of public outreach events, while also holding a meeting with the party's booth-level workers. On 15 May, he returned to Patna, this time to participate in a protest and to watch the movie 'Phule' with influencers from the marginalised communities—activities that were aligned with his social justice pitch. Five days later, he was in Karnataka to address a public rally in Vijayanagar district. आज पुंछ में पाकिस्तान की गोलाबारी में जान गंवाने वाले लोगों के परिवारों से मिला। टूटे मकान, बिखरा सामान, नम आंखें और हर कोने में अपनों को खोने की दर्द भरी दास्तान – ये देशभक्त परिवार हर बार जंग का सबसे बड़ा बोझ साहस और गरिमा के साथ उठाते हैं। उनके हौसले को सलाम है। पीड़ित… — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 24, 2025 On 24 May, the LoP visited areas in J&K's Poonch affected by Pakistani shelling during Operation Sindoor. Following his return to Delhi, he visited Delhi University and met the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) unit. On 30 May, he met the Congress's new leadership in Assam in Delhi, two days after the appointment of the party's Lok Sabha Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi as the president of the state unit. June onwards, Rahul's involvement in organisational affairs attained a frenetic pace. On 3 and 4 June, he was in Madhya Pradesh and Haryana respectively, meeting party MPs, MLAs, Political Affairs Committees, district and block presidents among others. In fact, his visit to the Congress's Haryana unit office in Chandigarh was the first by a member of the Gandhi family. On 6 June, he participated in party events in Bihar's Gaya and Rajgir. He also wrote an opinion piece in various newspapers, a route he rarely took before, on 6 June, triggering a heated debate on the independence, or the lack of it, of the Election Commission. The Congress leader also marked his 55th birthday on 19 June by visiting the party's national headquarters and personally accepting greetings from leaders and workers. In the past, he had drawn criticism for being abroad on his birthdays, denying party members, who often cut cakes in his absence, the opportunity to meet him. On 21 June, the Congress announced the new district presidents of the party in Gujarat, marking the culmination of its pilot project which has now been scaled up. Venugopal said the performance of the new appointees will be assessed in three to four months and those found unable to deliver will be made to step down. 'There will be a clear-cut evaluation not just for the new district presidents but office-bearers at all levels. The AICC will carry out the assessment process. They will have to fulfil the primary task for which they are being appointed. Anyone who wants to contest elections will have to step down at least one year before they plan to do so. They will be given ideological training and made aware of the prevailing political situation,' he said. Leaders of the Congress's tribal wing also shared a similar feedback they received from Rahul in two meetings he held with them over the last one month. On 23 June, he met leaders of the All India Adivasi Congress, the party's tribal wing. He held another meeting 14 July, also sharing his vision to establish an empowered tribal leadership within the party. This month, Rahul has already been to Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Kerala. Separately, in Delhi, he has held meetings with leaderships of the Jharkhand, Bihar and Gujarat units. LoP Shri @RahulGandhi made a courtesy visit to senior leader Shri A.K. Antony in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. — Congress (@INCIndia) July 18, 2025 'There is also an effort on his part to act as a bridge between the party's old and new guard that has come up under him,' said a senior Congress functionary who works closely with Rahul, referring to his meeting with former defence minister in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. Many leaders, however, are cautiously optimistic about the shift in this approach and its implications for the party. 'He is going around sharing his vision and ideas with party workers down to the block level. But execution remains an area of concern. Last year, he had declared his intention to purge the Gujarat unit of BJP moles. The same set of people actually dictated the appointment process of the district presidents of Gujarat Congress in some cases,' said a leader of the party's Gujarat unit. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: 50 yrs since Emergency, Congress's journey from justification to admission of 'mistake'
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Barking on TV every day: Mallikarjun Kharge tears into PM in Karnataka
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being excessively present on television while ignoring pressing domestic issues like the ongoing crisis in criticised the Prime Minister's frequent media appearances, saying, "Modi is seen on TV every single day, there isn't a single day he's not on the TV screens. Despite having government television Doordarshan, no Prime Minister in the past would bark on TV the way he does the moment the day breaks."advertisementAddressing a convention organised by the Karnataka government in Mysuru, Kharge intensified his criticism, accusing Prime Minister Modi of 'murdering' the Constitution. He asserted that the people of India would not allow the BJP and RSS to alter it. "BJP and RSS are talking about amending or rewriting the Constitution. You may try how much you want, but the people of this country will not allow you to change the Constitution. If you (people) allow them to change the Constitution, you will not have any rights," Kharge warned the gathering."Modi, you became the Chief Minister and Prime Minister because of the Constitution. You bowed to the Constitution before entering Parliament, but Modi is today murdering the same Constitution," Kharge focus to the violence in Manipur, Kharge highlighted the deteriorating situation in the state, alleging government inaction in the face of serious crimes and ethnic clashes."In our country, in Manipur, there are reports of rapes, communal violence, and tribal clashes between two communities. People have lost their properties and children, but neither the BJP-led state government nor the central government has done anything about it," he also questioned the Prime Minister's silence and absence from the conflict-torn region. "Modi travels to 42 countries, but in our own country, a region as important as Manipur, he hasn't even visited. Is he scared to go there?"Drawing a contrast with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Kharge said, "Rahul Gandhi, on the other hand, not only visited Manipur but even started his Bharat Jodo Yatra 2nd leg from there. While people are dying in our own country, Modi continues to travel abroad."Pointing to Modi's claim that India is now among the top countries in terms of equality, Kharge cited Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's statement that poverty is rising and wealth is concentrating among a few. "Who is correct, Modi or Gadkari? Who is to be believed?" he asked, adding that 'Modi's only guarantee is lying.'- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Narendra Modi#Indian National Congress
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Youth must follow Chandy's path, says Rahul Gandhi
Kottayam: A remembrance meet was held on Friday commemorating the second death anniversary of former chief minister Oommen Chandy at St George Orthodox Syrian Church in Puthuppally. Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi fondly remembered Chandy saying that the former chief minister was a guru to him in many ways and was a guru for many people in Kerala. The Congress leader also said that a guru shows directions through his actions, and Chandy showed us the direction not by talking or thinking, but through his actions. Gandhi also urged the youth in the state to follow Chandy's footsteps. Gandhi said that in the 21 years of his political life, Chandy was a great influence as he was the master of understanding people's feelings. "I literally saw him kill himself for the people of Kerala," said Gandhi, referring to Chandy's participation in the Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022 during which the former chief minister walked alongside Gandhi despite doctors' request against doing so. Gandhi recollected that when he told Chandy about what the doctors said, he refused to obey. Gandhi said he finally managed to persuade Chandy to stop walking after a certain distance. "We had to literally forcibly take him back to the car," said Gandhi, adding that only a leader who feels for the people can do that. "For me, Chandy is not just an individual but an expression of Kerala politics. My aspiration is to develop more and more people like Chandy," Gandhi added. Gandhi also said that he learned a lot from Chandy. "He got the most brutal and unfair political attack on him, which I would say was a criminal attack. Non-stop lies were spread about him. I used to talk to him over the phone regularly those days. I never heard him speak angrily about anyone. He was always balanced and humble," he said. Gandhi said Chandy implemented cochlear implantation for children with hearing loss. This is a very rare disease, and he did not undertake this aiming for a vote bank. He only wanted every single child to hear the voice of others. "This is the politics of realising the feelings of others," he said, adding that this is where he fights with the ideologies of RSS and CPM. "My biggest complaint is that they do not have a feeling for people," he said. "You are not a leader if you do not feel with the people or if you are not ready to connect with the people," he said. Gandhi also said that the biggest tragedy of Indian politics is that there are only a few people who actually feel what others are feeling. Gandhi concluded by stating that it was a great honour for him to take part in the remembrance meet. During the function, Gandhi inaugurated the Smrithi Tharangam programme implemented by KPCC. KPCC president Sunny Joseph presided over the event. Gandhi also handed over the keys of 11 houses constructed by Oommen Chandy Foundation. Various religious leaders, Congress leaders and people's representatives spoke on the occasion.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
TPCC chief praises Telangana's BC quota decision at AICC OBC meet in Bengaluru
HYDERABAD: TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud on Wednesday said that Telangana has emerged as a role model for the country in implementing reservations for Backward Classes (BC). Speaking at the AICC OBC Advisory Council meeting held in Bengaluru under the chairmanship of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Mahesh Goud asserted that the Congress government in Telangana has initiated comprehensive measures — legal, political and administrative — to ensure effective and hassle-free implementation of BC reservations. The TPCC chief also expressed pride in having played a key role during significant moments in the party's BC empowerment efforts. 'From proposing the BC Declaration in Kamareddy ahead of the Telangana Assembly polls as TPCC working president, to leading the party now as state president while the government is translating that vision into reality — I consider myself fortunate to be part of this historic process,' he said. He said that Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy, despite belonging to a forward caste, extended full support to the BC reservation initiative. 'Revanth Reddy has shown exemplary commitment by ensuring legal safeguards and institutional frameworks for BC welfare,' he said. The TPCC president also recalled Rahul Gandhi's emphasis on BC empowerment during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, and said the Telangana government has since operationalised key steps in that direction — including the formation of a BC Commission, a BC Dedication Commission, a caste survey, introduction of relevant legislation in the Assembly, and issuance of an ordinance by the Governor. 'Rahul Gandhi, Revanth Reddy, and I consider ourselves foot soldiers in the mission to uphold BC rights,' he said. The Bengaluru meeting was attended by ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Konda Surekha, MP Anil Yadav and former MP V Hanumantha Rao, among others.
