NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that the party needs to filter out leaders and workers in Gujarat who are allegedly aligned with the BJP and gave warning of strict action with the possibility of removal from the party.
Addressing party workers in Ahmedabad during his two-day visit to the state, he hinted at a major overhaul ahead of the 2027 assembly elections and assured a strong strategy to challenge the ruling BJP.
Gandhi said, “There are two types of people in the Gujarat Congress leadership and among workers. Those who are honest with people, fight for them, respect them and have the ideology of the Congress in their heart. And the others who are cut off from the people, sit far away, do not respect them and half of whom are with the BJP.”
He said that the party’s first task should be to differentiate between these two groups. “Until these groups are separated, the people of Gujarat will not believe in the party,” he asserted, adding that even strict action, including expelling certain individuals, might be necessary.
Gandhi pointed out that Congress has been out of power in Gujarat for over 30 years and said regaining public trust should take priority over election victories. “The question is not about elections. Unless we fulfill our responsibilities, the people of Gujarat will not let us win,” he said, adding that once the party reconnects with the public, electoral success will follow.
During his address, Gandhi also criticised the state of Gujarat’s industries, particularly the diamond, textile, and ceramic sectors, which he claimed were struggling. “Look at the farmers of Gujarat. They are screaming for a new vision. The vision of the last 20-25 years has failed, and Congress can provide this vision easily,” he said.
Gandhi also acknowledged the historical role of Gujarat in shaping Congress and India’s freedom movement. He reminded party workers that Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, two of the Congress’s most influential leaders, hailed from the state. “Without Gandhi, Congress would not have been able to get independence for the country,” he said.
Gandhi noted internal challenges within the party, asserting that some Congress leaders were “chained” and needed to re-establish their connection with the people. He encouraged party members to engage with citizens and understand their concerns. “We are here to listen to you,” he told the gathering.
He further stated that Congress could return to power in Gujarat with a small increase in vote share. “The opposition already holds 40 per cent of the vote in Gujarat. If we can increase our vote share by just 5 per cent, the entire political equation will change,” he explained, citing Telangana as an example where the party increased its vote share by 22 per cent.
BJP hits back
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticised Rahul Gandhi, calling him the “BJP’s biggest asset” and mocking his remarks about Congress workers. “He has trolled himself and his party. He tried to show the mirror to himself. Such an honest reaction… Rahul Gandhi admits he is unable to win in Gujarat, unable to show the way,” Poonawalla said.
Referring to Gandhi’s analogy comparing some Congress workers to racehorses forced to dance at weddings, Poonawalla questioned his choice of words. “Are your party workers animals? At least please call your party workers humans. You are calling them horses,” he said.
Taking to social media platform X, Poonawalla further attacked Gandhi, calling his remarks “bizarre” and listing a series of questions. “Rahul Gandhi has once again proven he is the OG when it comes to bizarre comments… Mr Entitled Dynast, stop calling Congress workers ‘ghoda’—they are humans. Stop blaming others for your failures—first EVMs, now party workers, who next? The public?” he wrote. He also took a dig at Gandhi’s electoral record, saying, “If half of Congress is ‘gaddar,’ what are you for making Congress lose 90+ times?”
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi also slammed Gandhi, stating, “From alleging his party, people, constitutional institutions, and media—he has now started blaming his own people. I’ll suggest he do self-introspection instead of blaming others.”
On the first day of his visit, Gandhi had met with party leaders and district and block-level presidents to discuss strategies. His visit comes ahead of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session, scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad on April 8-9, the first such session in the state in 64 years.
In the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections, Congress secured only 17 out of 182 seats, and its strength later dropped to 12 after five MLAs resigned. Gandhi admitted that the party had failed to meet Gujarat’s expectations over the past 30 years and promised corrective measures.
He concluded his address with a mix of determination and humour, remarking on Gujarat’s hospitality. “Every time I come here, no matter how much I try to control my weight, you take me to restaurants and serve delicious snacks, and I end up gaining a kilo!” he joked, drawing laughter from the audience.