Monday, Aug 14, 2023
Journalism of Courage
Rahul Gandhi
As the country approaches the 2024 General Elections, one leader who could be seen as one of the biggest challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reign is Rahul Gandhi. Rahul's growing popularity was recently witnessed when he undertook a five-month-long Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. The foot march, which was launched with an eye to revive the grand old party's flagging fortunes, covered 3,570 km and crossed 12 states and two Union Territories. During the march, the Indian National Congress won state assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh and an emphatic victory in Karnataka four months after the march.
Rahul was also at the centre stage when he got disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha on March 24, 2023 after a Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in Gujarat’s Surat convicted and sentenced him for two-year imprisonment on charges of criminal defamation for comments he made about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname. Before his disqualification as an MP, Rahul was critical of the ruling government in the parliament and raised his voice against PM Modi's alleged soft corner towards business tycoon Gautam Adani
Soon after his disqualification, Rahul said, “Democracy is finished in this country. The people of the country cannot speak what is on their mind and the institutions are under attack. The mechanism of that attack is the relationship between Narendra Modi and Adani. That is the foundation.” Rahul echoed his 2019 chowkidar-chor-hai line and blended it with his refrain on democratic backsliding that was a refrain in his speeches in the UK. The former didn’t have much of an echo then and how resonant will a refresh of that be is anybody’s guess. But in a pre-election year, he made it clear that his campaign against the Government — after the Bharat Jodo Yatra — rested on these two planks..
Taking a cue from the success of his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul has consistently been making attempts to meet common people on the streets, addressing young gatherings in universities and raising his voice against the Modi regime.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul was president of the party and led the Opposition campaign. But the Grand Old Party failed miserably in the elections winning only 52 seats in the 545-member Lok Sabha. Rahul lost his home turf Amethi to BJP's Smriti Irani but won from Wayanad in Kerala. The son of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul had earlier appeared to be a reluctant entrant to politics like his father. He entered electoral politics in 2004. He was appointed as the party general secretary in 2007 and was elevated to vice president of the party in January 2013. He took over as the Congress president from his mother Sonia Gandhi in December 2017.
Despite everything, Rahul has clearly evolved as a leader and a lot will depend on how he drives the election campaign first in four states (Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana) and then for the 2024 General Elections to be most likely held in May-June.
RAHUL GANDHI NEWS
Rahul Gandhi: Perverted logic behind ‘vanvasi’ term used by BJP for tribals
August 14, 2023 6:56 am
On his second day of visit to his constituency, Wayanad, since being reinstated as an MP, Rahul was speaking after inaugurating a power line commissioned using the MPLAD funds, at a government-run hospital meant for tribals in the district.
Vandita Mishra writes: Three days and three bills in Parliament
August 13, 2023 8:10 pm
The no-confidence motion, and the proposed overhaul of the penal code, tell a story
Agnipath a threat to Army regiments… will hold yatra to protest against it… want Rahul to join: Uttarakhand Congress chief
August 13, 2023 8:19 pm
Karan Mahara says, “We never saw communal tensions (in the state) previously, but things have changed now … People are openly abusing a community, threatening to kill them, and the police and administration are silent.”
Rahul Gandhi pitches for tribal rights: 'original owners of country'
August 13, 2023 1:09 pm
"Our tribal brothers and sisters were the original owners of this country," Rahul Gandhi said while launching a power facility for a cancer centre in Wayanad.
Today in politics: Day 2 of Rahul's happy Wayanad visit, but is contractor anger now turning on Cong in Karnataka?
August 13, 2023 11:58 am
An I.N.D.I.A candidate for a Jharkhand by-election, Cong set to launch Chhattisgarh poll campaign, while no end to Bengal brawl over panchayat elections between BJP and TMC
MP home minister warns of legal action against Priyanka Gandhi over social media post alleging corruption by state govt
August 12, 2023 7:30 pm
The state Congress, however, said it would prove that the BJP-led government is corrupt and also accused the ruling party of creating “political terror”.
Rahul Gandhi fires salvos at PM Modi from Wayanad: ‘BJP destroyed Manipur, Congress will rebuild it’
August 13, 2023 8:03 am
On first visit to his constituency since his reinstatement as an MP, Rahul gets a rousing reception, says, ‘I have come back to my family… The disqualification has made my relationship with Wayanad stronger’
Rahul Gandhi to visit Wayanad today, first time after being reinstated as Lok Sabha MP
August 12, 2023 11:18 am
Rahul Gandhi will address a public meeting at the annual Nehru Trophy boat race in Alappuzha, Kerala.
Today in Politics: No-trust motion done and dusted, Modi, Rahul hit the ground
August 12, 2023 9:44 am
PM will be in MP to mark another BJP event to woo Dalits via Sant Ravidas; Rahul to be in Wayanad for first strip after his return as MP; J P Nadda in Bengal for a post-panchayat poll update
'Bharat Mata' not expunged from Rahul's speech, he has lost mental balance: Pralhad Joshi
August 11, 2023 8:38 pm
Speaking to reporters, the minister asserted that only some unparliamentary words and not 'Bharat Mata' were expunged from Gandhi's address during the no-confidence motion debate on Wednesday
RAHUL GANDHI PHOTOS
From Rahul Gandhi's return to heated discussion on Manipur violence: Highlights from Parliament this week
August 11, 2023 8:27 am
This week marked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's return to the Parliament after being suspended as an MP over a defamation case.
Manipur takes centrestage as Rahul Gandhi, Amit Shah speak in Lok Sabha
August 09, 2023 10:59 pm
The no-confidence vote debate in the Lok Sabha focussed on the violence-hit state of Manipur.
As Rahul Gandhi turns 53, a look at his life and politics: From the archives
June 19, 2023 2:46 pm
As Rahul Gandhi turns 53, we take a look at his life and politics. Take a look at pictures from Express Archives.
Congress leaders protest against Rahul Gandhi's disqualification in Parliament
March 25, 2023 11:35 am
Oppn unity, Kashmiri pheran, snow fight with Priyanka: Highlights of Rahul's Yatra finale
January 30, 2023 4:42 pm
Amid snowfall in Srinagar, Opposition party leaders joined Rahul Gandhi to mark the culmination of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Watch: Rahul Gandhi unfurls Tricolour at Srinagar's Lal Chowk
January 29, 2023 4:42 pm
Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi, hoisted the Tricolour at Lal Chowk, after resuming his march from the city’s Pantha Chowk earlier in the day.
Biggest news of the week, in pictures
January 21, 2023 2:36 pm
From Swedish climate Greta Thunberg being detained in Germany to Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra reaching Jammu, here are some of the biggest news of the week in pictures.
A Himachal Congress spectacle amid Rahul Gandhi's day-long Yatra in state
January 18, 2023 2:44 pm
After spending six days in Punjab, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Himachal Pradesh Wednesday morning.
Over 3,000 km walked, Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes after winter break
January 03, 2023 2:15 pm
RahulGandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra has so far covered 3,122 km, across 49 districts in nine states and Delhi. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)
RAHUL GANDHI VIDEOS
Want to give Modi a hug when he abuses me: Rahul
June 22, 2020 6:04 pm
"When PM Modi abuses me, I feel like giving him a hug," says Rahul Gandhi speaking at The Odisha Dialogue.
Priyanka Gandhi takes a political Plunge, appointed Congress in-charge of UP East
June 22, 2020 6:04 pm
Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress Wednesday appointed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as general secretary of Uttar Pradesh East. She will take charge in the second week of February.
Congress picks Ashok Gehlot as Rajasthan CM, Sachin Pilot is deputy CM
June 22, 2020 6:08 pm
After deliberations, Congress President Rahul Gandhi has picked Ashok Gehlot for the post of Rajasthan Chief Minister. Sachin Pilot, who fought for the position, will be made deputy Chief Minister of the state.
Why the election in Chhattisgarh was not neck-and-neck | DECISION 2018
June 22, 2020 6:08 pm
For at least the last two elections, in Chhattisgarh it was a tight race between Congress and BJP. What changed this time around? Dipankar Ghose decodes the result.
BJP's silence is louder than Congress' celebration. The wait for Modi-Shah's concession speech is still on
June 22, 2020 6:08 pm
The big difference between Congress and the BJP after an election result was at display on Tuesday. While after almost every election defeat Rahul Gandhi addressed the media and answered questions about the result, the BJP headquarters fell silent.
What Rahul did right: It was not the promise of better governance
June 22, 2020 6:08 pm
Congress President Rahul Gandhi is rightly being credited for the grand old party's victory in three crucial states in the Hindi heartland. But what did he do right? It was not the promise of better governance. Manoj CG explains what really worked.
As TRS sweeps Telangana, here’s what worked in KCR’s favour | DECISION 2018
June 22, 2020 6:08 pm
K Chandrashekhar Rao will continue as Chief Minister of Telangana for a second term. The victory is, for the most part, not a surprise. But here’s what worked in his favour. And what about the Congress-TDP alliance? Liz Mathew breaks it down.
Campaign heat: The allegations, the promises and more. Who said what on the campaign trail
June 22, 2020 6:08 pm
In the five states where elections were held, here's what national leaders of the BJP and Congress promised to the people.
DECISION 2018: What's at stake in the 5 states this election
June 22, 2020 6:08 pm
As the results of assembly elections in five states unfold, here's a look at the mammoth exercise undertaken by the Election Commission of India.
Chhattisgarh elections: Congress and BJP manifestos focus on farmers, cows and women
June 22, 2020 6:10 pm
Both Congress and the BJP are fighting a tough battle in Chhattisgarh this year. As the second phase on voting state in underway, we look at what both parties are promising, to woo the voters.
