Whether separate Rahul and Priyanka camps were emerging within Congress !!

BJP spokesman Sambit Patra alleged that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was being sidelined within the Congress, claiming she was not given an opportunity to speak at either the party’s mock Parliament or the Ramlila Maidan rally. 

Another BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also questioned whether separate Rahul and Priyanka camps were emerging within the party. These claims were not independently substantiated.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok Morcha president Upendra Kushwaha termed the Opposition’s electoral irregularity allegations baseless and urged political parties to focus on public issues rather than undermine democratic institutions.

The BJP also announced counter-campaigns in states. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will undertake a padayatra in Hyderabad on Monday.

The Telangana BJP’s campaign is against what it calls the Congress’s misleading narrative on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Shah is also expected to address a gathering. 

In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will lead a ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ march in Nagpur on November 5. 

The BJP expects 15,000 to 20,000 participants at the march, which will run from Yashwant Stadium to Samvidhan Chowk and conclude a four-day campaign.   

The BJP on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following the INDIA bloc’s ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ rally in Delhi, accusing him of making baseless allegations against the government and the Election Commission.

Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra described the Ramlila Maidan gathering as a “chaotic, unruly spectacle” and claimed that the turnout fell far short of the 10 lakh people projected by Congress leaders. He dismissed Gandhi’s claim that the 2024 Lok Sabha election was “illegal”, arguing that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was not in office during those polls.

Patra said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would remain in office as long as Gandhi continued to manufacture “non-issues”. He also accused the Congress leader of undermining democratic institutions and described the Opposition’s “vote chori” allegations as a “bundle of lies”. 

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee were among those travelling with other INDIA bloc leaders, while supporters walked alongside the vehicle, turning the stretch towards the rally venue into a moving procession.

The march, organised under the banner of ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’, was the most visible part of the Opposition alliance’s mobilisation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. But the gathering had begun taking shape across the capital several hours before the leaders arrived at Minto Road. 

At Ramlila Maidan, supporters of different Opposition parties had started assembling early in the morning. Congress workers gathered outside Himachal Bhawan before proceeding towards the venue, while Samajwadi Party supporters assembled outside Akhilesh Yadav’s residence. Groups affiliated with Left parties also arrived in the Capital, with student organisations joining the mobilisation.

Supporters were not limited to party workers from Delhi. Several groups had travelled from neighbouring States and other parts of the country. Supporters of the INDIA bloc gathered carrying party flags, banners and placards, while groups of students and representatives of different organisations made their way towards the rally venue.

At the centre of the preparations was Ramlila Maidan, where a large tricolour canopy had been erected above the main stage. 

A separate stage was arranged for representatives of the alliance’s State units. White canopy tents, temporary platforms and designated enclosures occupied portions of the grounds, with barricades installed to regulate the movement of people.

Cut-outs of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge were also put up outside the venue.