Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi over the opposition’s street protests in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, warning that the Congress should brace for another "crushing defeat" in the 2029 general elections.
Shah said that the people of the country stood firmly behind the BJP, the National Democratic Alliance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, dismissing the opposition’s allegations of electoral irregularities.
"I also wish to ask Rahul ji: is this the result of an 'SIR'? You dismiss the popularity of the BJP and Modi ji by attributing it to an 'SIR'. You need to introspect. In a major state where you once held power, you have failed to win a single election in 41 years," Shah said.
He also criticised what he described as the Congress's "negative politics", saying the party needed to understand the people’s concerns and strengthen its connection with the public.
"I want to tell Shri Rahul ji and his associates to prepare themselves once again for a crushing defeat in 2029. In the 2029 general elections, the NDA is going to win with a resounding majority, and the Congress is going to face defeat for the fourth consecutive time.
"The people of this country are with Narendra Modi ji, with the BJP, with the NDA. You cannot deny this truth," he told reporters.
Shah also accused the opposition of attempting to get infiltrators registered as voters.
"I want to ask Shri Rahul Gandhi ji directly: Is this the result of the SIR? The SIR started only after 2024.
"Ever since you became the principal leader of the Congress, and later its president, and now the Leader of the Opposition, the Congress party has continuously lost elections. You need to engage in introspection. You cannot win the trust of the country's people through fabricated media events and echoes of lies," he said.
Shah Targets Congress After BJP's Gujarat Victory
Shah’s remarks came amid the BJP’s "resounding victory" in the Gujarat local body elections, where the party secured 90 of the 104 seats across two municipalities and one municipal corporation.
The Home Minister said the results reflected the people of Gujarat’s unwavering trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He also questioned the Congress’s relevance in the state’s electoral politics.
"I want to make this point clear – and specifically convey it to Rahul ji – that the Congress party has not won a single election in 41 years. The last election they won was back in 1985; since then, they have faced continuous defeats in Gujarat."
Highlighting the BJP’s performance in his Gandhinagar constituency, Shah said the party had won 38 of the 44 seats in the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation, recording a 10 per cent increase in vote share compared with the previous election.
"Elections were held today for three municipalities and municipal corporations in Gujarat. The Bharatiya Janata Party achieved a resounding victory, winning 90 out of the total 104 seats across these two municipalities and one municipal corporation."
"In the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation--which falls within my constituency--the BJP won 38 out of 44 seats."
Shah also took a swipe at the Aam Aadmi Party, claiming that it had lost its security deposit in all 32 seats it contested.
"The Aam Aadmi Party contested all 32 seats but forfeited its security deposit on every single one of them."
Rahul Gandhi Says India Bloc Protest Aims to Restore Democracy
Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the INDIA bloc’s protest against alleged electoral irregularities was aimed at restoring democracy in the country.
After hosting a high-tea meeting at his residence with INDIA bloc leaders, opposition MPs and student organisations, Gandhi accused the government of undermining democratic institutions. He said the opposition would unite to fight for the restoration of democratic rule.
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Gandhi also said the opposition would challenge the government’s decision to restrict the use of Jantar Mantar as a venue for protests, arguing that the move limited the expression of democratic dissent.