On April 14, 2023, in Raiganj, West Bengal, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and a Congress MP, paid tribute to Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar on his 135th birth anniversary during an election rally. Gandhi seized the opportunity to criticise the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), claiming that these groups are attempting to “destroy the Constitution.” He asserted that their actions threaten the democratic framework established by the nation’s founding leaders.

Allegations Against the Government

During his address, Gandhi claimed that the BJP and the RSS engage in indirect attacks on the Constitution by appointing their supporters to key positions within institutions and manipulating electoral outcomes. He voiced concerns regarding the integrity of democracy in India, stating, “RSS-BJP people cannot attack the Constitution directly, but by placing their own people in institutions and stealing votes, they are attempting to end democracy.”

Gandhi also recalled the Bharat Jodo Yatra undertaken in 2023, where he and his supporters marched from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. He described the journey as a manifestation of their commitment to opposing what he termed the “hate-filled ideology of RSS-BJP.” The Congress leader highlighted their mission to propagate love and unity across the nation, illustrating this with the slogan raised during the march: “Nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukan kholni hai,” which translates to “we need to open a shop of love in the market of hate.”

Taking further aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister lacks sincerity in his dealings, particularly regarding the recent interim trade deal with the United States. He suggested that Modi’s relationship with President Donald Trump positioned the Prime Minister in a subordinate role, stating, “The controller is in the hands of Donald Trump.” He remarked on Modi’s inability to maintain eye contact, implying that the Prime Minister was uncomfortable during their exchanges.

Criticism of TMC and Previous Governments

In addition to targeting the BJP and RSS, Gandhi directed criticisms towards the Trinamool Congress (TMC), claiming that both the Left and TMC administrations have devastated Bengal’s industrial sector. He stated, “Earlier, Bengal was an industrial hub,” and accused both parties of contributing to its decline. He further alleged that while Modi is corrupt, the TMC has not been spared from corruption either, citing the Sharda Chit Fund and Rose Valley Chit Fund scams as significant examples of financial mismanagement that has affected millions of investors.

In the upcoming elections, Congress has nominated Mohit Sengupta for the Raiganj Assembly seat. The TMC’s sitting MLA and minister, Krishna Kalyani, who previously won on a BJP ticket before switching parties, is contesting again. The BJP aims to regain the seat with candidate Kaushik Chowdhury. The Congress party seeks to improve its electoral performance after failing to secure any seats in the last assembly elections against the intense rivalry between the TMC and the BJP.

The West Bengal Assembly elections are scheduled to take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with the counting of votes set for May 4, 2023. The political landscape remains charged as various parties prepare for the confrontation at the polls.

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