New Delhi: Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi has once again put the party in crisis with her statement. Although her son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi rushed to her defense, offering clarifications, the BJP finally got the issue it was looking for. Sonia’s statement could deal a blow to Rahul Gandhi’s OBC politics, which he has been openly pursuing under the banner of saving the Constitution. While Rahul’s approach is already harming the party, no leader dares to oppose him. Under his direction, the Congress launched campaigns like “Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan, and Jai Gandhi,” but failed to mobilize a significant movement.
By commenting on the President’s speech and stating that she looked “tired,” Sonia Gandhi inadvertently handed the BJP a major issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP immediately seized on the remark. Addressing an election rally in Delhi, Modi attacked Congress, calling Sonia’s statement an insult to an Adivasi daughter, signaling that the BJP would turn it into a major controversy. Rashtrapati Bhavan officially objected to her remark, and the issue sparked strong reactions across the country.
For a long time, Rahul Gandhi and the opposition have been targeting the BJP over OBC issues, disrupting parliamentary proceedings in the 18th Lok Sabha. However, Congress could now find itself isolated.
It is striking how Congress has repeatedly lost crucial elections due to reckless statements. In 2007, Sonia Gandhi’s “merchant of death” remark and, in 2018, Mani Shankar Aiyar’s “low” comment turned potential victories in Gujarat into defeats, consequences the party still suffers from. Even Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has made statements that have harmed the party.
Just last week, he made a controversial remark about the Mahakumbh, which the BJP is certain to exploit in the future.
Elections in Bihar are due this year, and several states, including Uttar Pradesh, will go to polls in 2026 and 2027. The Mahakumbh could become a major electoral issue in Uttar Pradesh, as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is a key face of Sanatan Dharma and the event is happening under his leadership. In Bihar, the BJP has now been handed two major issues—Sonia Gandhi’s comment on the President and Kharge’s remark on the Mahakumbh.
One big issue Congress’ has is its leadership’s poor grasp of Hindi. Sonia Gandhi has always struggled with Hindi, and though Rahul speaks the language, he often fails to grasp its deeper meanings. This linguistic gap has weakened Congress, preventing it from effectively engaging in majority politics.
It remains unclear why Kharge made a comment about the Mahakumbh, an event deeply linked to Hindu faith. Congress has already faced accusations of Muslim appeasement, and remarks on Hindu traditions only strengthen the BJP’s position.
Although Sonia Gandhi’s statement may not have a major impact in Delhi’s elections—where the main contest is between BJP and AAP—PM Modi’s response indicates that the BJP will not let this issue slide. The BJP is known for capitalizing on such opportunities.