GURUGRAM — Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp attack on the ruling BJP, alleging that democratic institutions and the electoral process were being weakened through the misuse of state machinery and constitutional bodies.
Speaking at a large public gathering during the “Sadbhav Yatra” in Gurugram, Gandhi claimed that recent elections in several states had raised serious concerns among Opposition parties regarding the functioning of democratic institutions. Referring to elections in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Assam, he alleged that the BJP benefited from institutional influence and irregularities in the electoral process.
“After Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra, the BJP also won elections in Bengal and Assam through misuse of institutions and state machinery,” Gandhi alleged, accusing the ruling party of relying on voter list manipulation and institutional control as part of its electoral strategy.
He said institutions expected to function independently — including the Election Commission, sections of the bureaucracy and investigative agencies — were increasingly coming under pressure from the Centre. According to Gandhi, elections were no longer fought only through political mobilisation, but also through “control over institutions.”
The Congress leader further alleged that public resources and national assets were being concentrated in the hands of a few large corporate groups. Reiterating the Opposition’s criticism of crony capitalism, he claimed that the Narendra Modi government was working in the interests of major industrialists, including Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani.
Gandhi also criticised the recent Indo-US trade agreement, alleging that it compromised India’s economic interests and would adversely affect farmers, small businesses and domestic manufacturing. He claimed the agreement opened Indian markets disproportionately to American interests while offering limited benefits to India.
Without providing evidence, Gandhi further alleged that external pressure had influenced the government’s decision-making on the trade agreement. He also referred to ongoing legal scrutiny involving the Adani Group in the United States, claiming it had political implications for the BJP government.
The Congress MP accused the Centre of restricting discussion in Parliament on issues related to the trade agreement and the Adani matter. He alleged that attempts to raise these subjects in the Lok Sabha had faced disruptions.
Turning to domestic economic concerns, Gandhi described unemployment as one of the country’s most pressing challenges. He argued that despite acquiring educational qualifications, many young people were unable to find jobs because small and medium enterprises had weakened under current economic policies.
He criticised the government for encouraging an economic model that, according to him, favoured large corporations while allowing cheap Chinese imports to dominate Indian markets. He also said unemployed youth were increasingly being distracted through social media instead of being provided meaningful economic opportunities.
Invoking the message of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi reiterated the slogan “nafrat ke bazar mein mohabbat ki dukan,” saying the Congress stood for harmony and unity in contrast to what he described as the politics of hatred and division.
He said political yatras help leaders understand the concerns of ordinary people and urged Congress workers to undertake similar outreach programmes across the country.
Asserting that the ideological contest in India was primarily between the Congress and the RSS, Gandhi maintained that the Congress remained the only Opposition party with the organisational strength and ideological foundation to challenge the BJP nationally.
“No other political party will be able to stand firmly against the BJP; ultimately only the Congress will defeat it,” he said.
Senior Congress leaders present at the rally included B. K. Hariprasad, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Birender Singh, Brijendra Singh and Uday Bhan, among others.
