Rahul Gandhi urges major reforms and a fierce campaign against PM Modi and the BJP.
NEW DELHI: During Indira Gandhi’s rule in 1973–74, disgruntled Congressmen in Gujarat used to say that Chief Minister Chimanbhai Patel conspired in “Prapanchvati” to silence voices against his corruption and misdeeds. That’s what his consultation chamber was nicknamed. Now, top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is holding consultations with his advisors in the same Gujarat, announcing a purge of dissenters within the party—those whose views on issues like temples and Hindutva align closely with those of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Rahul Gandhi delivered fiery speeches both before and after the Congress convention in Ahmedabad, calling for sweeping changes and an aggressive campaign against the BJP, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As a result, old Congressmen and journalists in Gujarat are remembering “Prapanchvati” once again. They’re also reminding others that leaders like Chimanbhai Patel played a role in the decline of the Congress in Gujarat.
The question arises: Are Rahul Gandhi’s advisors planning to expel leaders like former Gujarat Congress President Bharatsinh Solanki from the party? During the convention, he was kept away from public view. Even though K.C. Venugopal is new as Rahul’s key general, Sonia Gandhi and her close aide Ambika Soni surely know how much help Bharatsinh’s father Madhavsinh Solanki extended to the Gandhi family during various crises—including the Bofors scandal—while serving as Gujarat CM and India’s External Affairs Minister.
Priyanka Gandhi’s absence from the convention is also being seen as a conspiracy by the “Prapanchkaris” (schemers). There is constant fear among some that when Priyanka is present, expectations and attraction shift away from Rahul. Some even raise slogans to make her the Congress President. The official reason—that she couldn’t attend due to a prior personal foreign trip—seems odd. Couldn’t a responsible Member of Parliament in the Gandhi family have rescheduled her travel for such a historic party convention?
Moreover, in the vote on the controversial Wakf Amendment Bill—which Rahul Gandhi strongly opposed—his “beloved sister” didn’t even show up to vote. In the Lok Sabha, the big brother himself is the Leader of Opposition. Does that mean Priyanka agreed with the government’s law? Should she also face disciplinary action?
From Gujarat’s soil, the Congress aims to directly challenge the BJP, particularly Prime Minister Modi. Last month, when Rahul Gandhi was in Gujarat’s capital Ahmedabad, he accused some Congress leaders of working for the BJP. In his convention speech, Rahul said Congress has tried to appeal to Dalits, Muslims, and Brahmins but lost touch with the Other Backward Castes (OBCs). This, despite the old Congress slogan—“Na jaat par, na paat par, Indira ji ki baat par, mohar lagegi haath par” (No caste or creed, only on Indira’s word, vote for the Hand symbol).
Ironically, it was Rahul’s father, the late Rajiv Gandhi, who delivered a scathing speech in Parliament opposing the Mandal Commission’s recommendations for OBC reservations. He even gave interviews against expanding the quota system. Gradually, the backward castes, Dalits, tribals, and Muslims drifted away from Congress and joined regional parties. Meanwhile, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas grew closer to the BJP post the Ram Mandir movement. In states where regional parties like SP, RJD, DMK, TMC, and AAP rose to power, Muslims moved away from Congress. Although Congress is now trying to woo Muslims back, Rahul Gandhi says he won’t back down on Muslim issues. But this effort is not going down well with allies. Congress’ stance on Article 370, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and now the Wakf Amendment Law has alienated the country’s majority. Karnataka’s Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar faced internal party criticism just for attending the recent Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and a spiritual event hosted by Sadhguru, further disappointing the majority of communities.
The Ahmedabad convention was symbolically held at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial. Congress used Patel’s name to target the RSS and BJP. Yet, Rahul Gandhi has never visited the world’s tallest statue—the Statue of Unity—dedicated to Sardar Patel in Gujarat. Congress leaders avoid going there because it was built by Prime Minister Modi. Watching Patel’s legacy slipping out of its hands has unnerved Congress. The party has been out of power in Gujarat for over three decades, and its recent Assembly election performance was the worst ever. It hasn’t had much success in Lok Sabha elections from Gujarat either. Still, Rahul Gandhi appears to believe that a return to power at the Centre must begin with Gujarat.
He may also be trying to show his I.N.D.I.A bloc allies that by directly challenging Modi from Gujarat, he’s fit to play the role of “big brother” in the alliance.
One more critical point: Rahul Gandhi and his “Prapanch clique” have been relentlessly attacking Gujarati business giants like Ambani and Adani from Parliament to the streets. Yet, these industrial groups provide employment to millions and have significant investments in public markets. Other industrialists too are wary of this pressure-style politics.
Those who know Congress’ history can’t forget how these very groups—Ambani, Adani, Tata, Birla, Dalmia, Hindujas—funded and bailed out Congress in India and abroad. Families of leaders like Milind Deora, Jitin Prasada, and Jyotiraditya Scindia facilitated this support.
Thankfully for Congress, these tycoons haven’t yet revealed old account books.
Among Muslim leaders too, veterans like Ghulam Nabi Azad left the party frustrated by Rahul’s team. Even the loyal Ahmed Patel’s daughter Mumtaz was denied a ticket in the last elections, and the seat was handed over to Arvind Kejriwal’s party. In Bihar, elections are due later this year. But will old Congress leaders and workers be willing to carry Tejashwi Yadav’s palanquin?
In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, can K.C. Venugopal help even one candidate win? In the South, it was the Congress under Sonia Gandhi that accused the DMK of supporting the LTTE in Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination and broke the party under P.V. Narasimha Rao’s leadership. Now Rahul embraces the DMK—but can he support them with heart and mind?
So how will the road to Rahul Gandhi’s throne emerge from this “Prapanchvati”?