Party projects Rahul Gandhi as fulcrum for broader opposition consolidation efforts.
Following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections and the growing turmoil within the Trinamool Congress, the Congress party believes it has strengthened its position as the principal opposition force and emerged as the central pillar of the opposition alliance.
Amid the rebellion within the Trinamool Congress and setbacks faced by several regional parties in their respective states, senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot suggested that regional parties which originally emerged from the Congress should consider reuniting with the grand old party and rallying behind Rahul Gandhi’s leadership to strengthen opposition unity ahead of future political contests.
A senior Congress leader pointed out that after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, several parties had questioned the Congress’s performance in states such as Maharashtra, Haryana, Assam, Bihar and West Bengal. However, according to the leader, the rebellion within the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has become a lesson for regional parties, demonstrating the need for opposition unity against the BJP. The Congress, he argued, remains the only national party capable of directly challenging the ruling BJP.
The leader stated that the Congress has historically accommodated allies and adopted an inclusive approach, whereas the BJP’s strategy has often involved forming alliances with regional parties and later weakening them. He cited examples such as Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and AIADMK to support his argument.
He further claimed that the BJP’s alleged attempts to attract leaders from the Trinamool Congress reflected a broader effort to weaken regional parties. According to him, the Congress remains the only umbrella under which opposition parties can unite with the common objective of defeating the BJP.
The Congress leader also referred to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks during the INDIA bloc meeting held in New Delhi on June 8. During the meeting, Gandhi stated that the Congress does not require the “neutrality of the Indian State” to function politically.
The more than three-hour meeting witnessed discussions on several issues, with some leaders questioning Rahul Gandhi over his criticism of Left parties during the Kerala Assembly elections. Others raised concerns over the absence of M.K. Stalin-led DMK from the meeting.
According to party sources, Rahul Gandhi addressed these concerns directly and rejected suggestions that Nitish Kumar and the Janata Dal (United) had left the opposition alliance because of the Congress.
Later, Rahul Gandhi publicly shared his remarks from the meeting, asserting that defeating the BJP would be possible if opposition parties remained united and resisted collectively. He also rejected perceptions that the INDIA bloc lacked coordination.
Invoking symbolism from the Shaiva tradition, Gandhi said the Congress would play the role of the “blue-necked one” (Shiva) who drinks poison, adding that the party would accept criticism from allies with humility and continue working to keep the opposition united.
“I find that in our discussions there is often a tinge of depression. People think, ‘How will we ever defeat the BJP?’ Let me tell you, it is easy to beat them if we stand together and resist,” Gandhi said.
He further stated that it was not his role to respond aggressively to criticism directed at the Congress. “Whatever criticism you have of me or the Congress party, we will accept it with a smile. Our role is to unite everyone with love and affection,” he said.
Responding to concerns regarding the DMK, Gandhi expressed confidence that all opposition parties remained committed to defending the idea of India. His remarks came amid tensions after the Congress supported Joseph C. Vijay-led TVK in Tamil Nadu when it fell short of a majority, a move that strained relations with the DMK.
Despite the disagreements, Gandhi also paid tribute to DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi on his birth anniversary, signalling an attempt to preserve relations.
At the same time, he acknowledged that political differences with allies were inevitable and cited Kerala as an example. Gandhi said he could not ignore the intense political contest between the Congress and the Left Democratic Front in the state.
“If you ask me to go and hug the former Chief Minister of Kerala, I cannot and I will not because we are in an ongoing political fight there,” he remarked.
Gandhi argued that while the INDIA alliance must remain united nationally against the BJP, regional political realities cannot be ignored. As a national party present across states, he said, the Congress has to respond to local political circumstances.
He also rejected suggestions that he deliberately sought confrontation with allies. “I am not a madman who would suddenly decide to fight allies. You are our friends, the people we love,” he said, while reiterating that the Congress had not lost the 2024 elections.
Calling for flexibility among opposition partners, Gandhi said there was an organised attempt to project the opposition as weak and divided.
He further argued that several opposition parties still believed they could operate using old political methods. According to him, the political environment had changed significantly.
Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP exercised influence over state institutions, including the bureaucracy, intelligence agencies and the Election Commission, and claimed that the RSS and BJP were steadily tightening their grip over the Indian state.
His remarks underline the Congress’s attempt to position itself as the nucleus of opposition politics while seeking to preserve unity within the INDIA bloc amid evolving political realities.
