The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday alleged a deepening rift within the leadership of the Congress party, claiming that the camp surrounding Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi is increasingly insecure regarding the political influence of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. According to BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari, the Congress is currently experiencing a power struggle between two distinct factions, with Rahul Gandhi’s team allegedly working to systematically marginalize his sister within the organizational hierarchy.
The allegations were levelled during a video statement issued by the BJP as opposition leaders congregated in Delhi for the INDIA bloc’s 'Chalo Dilli' rally. The event was organized to protest the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and various alleged irregularities concerning the electoral process. The march, which commenced at the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction, saw participation from several prominent opposition figures, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, among others.
Pradeep Bhandari centered his claims on specific instances where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra appeared to have limited visibility or speaking opportunities. He highlighted her absence from the list of speakers at the Ramlila Maidan rally as a point of contention. Furthermore, he referenced a mock Parliament event held in the national capital on October 31, where he claimed that Priyanka Gandhi’s seating placement in the second row served as evidence that she was being deliberately sidelined during what he termed as Rahul Gandhi's relaunch exercise.
"Priyanka Vadra, who has served as the General Secretary of the Congress Party and is Rahul Gandhi’s sister, was not allowed to speak today at the Ramlila Ground," Bhandari stated in his address. He questioned whether the decision to exclude her from the speaking dais was a direct act by the Leader of the Opposition. The BJP spokesperson further argued that the focus of the Congress leadership has shifted away from substantive national issues toward internal political maneuvering.
Describing the dynamic as a competition between the "Rahul camp" and the "Priyanka camp," Bhandari asserted that the latter is currently being suppressed. He characterized the ongoing political activities involving the Congress leader as part of a series of attempts to revitalize his public image, while simultaneously alleging that these efforts are being used to limit the prominence of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra within the party apparatus. He concluded his remarks by suggesting that the public is observing these internal developments with detached interest.
The rally itself follows a series of recent opposition activities, including a public mock impeachment programme conducted against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. While the INDIA bloc leaders focused their rhetoric on electoral concerns and democratic processes, the BJP's latest intervention sought to shift the narrative toward the internal stability of the Congress party. The BJP spokesperson did not provide independent evidence to substantiate the claim that Rahul Gandhi personally intervened to prevent his sister from addressing the gatherings in question.
As the political discourse continues, the claims made by the BJP underscore the high-stakes environment currently surrounding the INDIA bloc’s protest efforts. Whether these allegations of a sibling-led power struggle will gain traction or be dismissed as political posturing remains to be seen, as the Congress party prepares for future electoral challenges and the broader political calendar in the coming months.
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