The Aryavarth Express
Agency (NEW DELHI), June 4 – Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, often ridiculed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his supporters as an entitled dynast, has made a remarkable comeback, emerging as a key figure in an alliance that has made significant inroads into BJP strongholds.
Rahul Gandhi, a member of India’s prominent Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty, embarked on two cross-country marches to challenge what he called Modi’s politics of hate and fear. These efforts revitalized his Congress party and bolstered his own image. Reduced to just 52 seats in the 543-member lower house of parliament in 2019 due to a Modi landslide, Congress is now on track to nearly double that tally in the 2024 elections.
The BJP, although still poised to form the government with its allies, is projected to win less than the 272 seats needed for a majority on its own. This will force Modi to rely more on coalition partners, a significant shift from his previous terms. While Congress may not gain power, it will now have a much stronger voice in the opposition, with Gandhi at its center.
Gandhi, frequently targeted by Modi and BJP leaders who derisively call him “the prince,” is no stranger to the political spotlight. His father, grandmother, and great-grandfather were all prime ministers. During this campaign, Gandhi crisscrossed the country, becoming the main face of his party despite Congress being led by family loyalist Mallikarjun Kharge.
Political analyst Rahul Verma noted, “Rahul Gandhi will get credit not just for mobilization but also for continuously clarifying the Congress’s ideological pitch against the BJP. If there was a moment when Gandhi really emerged, it is now.”
At a press conference on Tuesday, Gandhi displayed a pocket-sized version of India’s constitution, emphasizing that his alliance’s performance was the “first step” in preventing Modi from changing it. Changing the constitution requires a two-thirds majority in parliament, a feat now unlikely for the BJP.
Gandhi, educated at Cambridge and known for his fitness and martial arts enthusiasm, has often said he is fighting against the RSS and BJP’s Hindu-first ideology, which he believes threatens India’s secular roots. “My fight is with the ideology of RSS and BJP which is a threat to our country. The hatred these people spread, they spread violence, I fight against it,” he said.
Despite being single at 53 and guarding his private life closely, Gandhi allowed a glimpse into his personal life during the campaign, sharing a video of himself playing with his dog, Yassa. His frequent absences from parliament have been criticized, with BJP accusing him of not taking politics seriously. However, his recent efforts have strengthened his political standing.
The Gandhi family, often compared to the Kennedys in the United States for their political power and tragedies, has a long history in Indian politics. The dynasty began with Motilal Nehru, a lawyer who became president of the Congress party. His son, Jawaharlal Nehru, was a close confidant of Mahatma Gandhi and served as prime minister from 1947 to 1964. Indira Gandhi, Jawaharlal’s daughter, and Rajiv Gandhi, Indira’s son, both served as prime ministers before their assassinations.
Rahul, his mother Sonia, and his sister Priyanka remain some of the most protected individuals in the world due to the family’s history of targeted violence. Despite the challenges, Rahul Gandhi has managed to reestablish himself as a formidable force in Indian politics.