Congress president Sonia Gandhi announced a ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ from Kanyakumari to Kashmir in the “Nav Sankalp” of Congress’ thinking camp organized in Udaipur. Digvijaya Singh is in-charge of the organising committee of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The yatra is seen as a strategy by Congress to improve its chances in the 2024 elections.
It was flagged off on September 7 from Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari. Rahul Gandhi will cover a distance of 3,500 km across 12 states and two Union Territories. It is expected to take about 150 days to complete the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'.
The Congress unveiled a logo, tagline, pamphlet and website for the yatra. The tagline or slogan for the nationwide foot march is 'mile kadam, jude vatan' (walk together, unite the country). The yatra is also said to be the longest rally mounted in the country over the last century.
On India First, Gaurav Sawant moderates a political debate following the Bharatiya Janata Party's fierce attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his foreign visits, political associations, and alleged regime change rhetoric. The BJP questioned Rahul Gandhi's leadership record and cited meetings abroad with figures such as US lawmaker Ilhan Omar, Sunita Viswanath, and Salil Shetty, alleging links to organizations connected to George Soros. On the show, BJP National Spokesperson RP Singh argued that an opposition leader's foreign trips must be transparent and accused Gandhi of meeting individuals who take anti-India stances. Congress National Spokesperson Ruchira Chaturvedi dismissed the allegations as fabricated distractions, challenging the government to present evidence or initiate legal action instead of leveling baseless charges. Chaturvedi countered by demanding answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on electoral roll discrepancies, including the deletion of crores of voter names and unauthorized form changes, stating that the opposition has approached the courts to safeguard constitutional democracy.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has mounted a sharp attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, scrutinising his overseas travels, leadership record, and alleged associations with foreign networks, including organisations linked to George Soros. Highlighting Congress electoral tallies, BJP leaders accused Gandhi of meeting suspicious figures abroad before returning to target Indian institutions, citing his interactions with US lawmakers and references from Barack Obama's memoir. The ruling party questioned Gandhi's political planning and alleged connections with entities funded by the Open Society Foundation, such as Hindus for Human Rights. In response, the Congress party rejected the allegations, arguing that the BJP is obsessed with the Leader of Opposition and uses personal foreign visits to divert attention from pressing public problems, including middle-class concerns and issues in Manipur. The Congress defended Gandhi's private visits and engagements with students and intellectuals, demanding to know whether similar scrutiny is applied to the Prime Minister's travels.
Addressing reporters during ongoing demonstrations, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asserted that the nationwide movement operates without a rigid plan, comparing the agitation to Lord Shiva's tandav. When asked about strategy following visits to Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Supreme Court, he stated that the movement requires spontaneous resistance rather than elaborate schemes, citing the Bharat Jodo Yatra where diverse sections of society walked together. He clarified that disparate agitations across India are unified, stating, 'The protest is to remove Gyanesh Kumar and then after that remove Mr Prime Minister.' Gandhi affirmed that his side will support and protect any civil society group defending the Constitution. Regarding communication with the Union government, he noted that intermediaries have approached associates around him, but reiterated that his stance remains transparent and expressed publicly on the streets. He also confirmed that evidence is being compiled to present before the President of India.
In this debate, anchor Rajdeep Sardesai and panelists examine the evolution of Rahul Gandhi's political strategy following the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Author Sugato Srinivasraju argues that Gandhi has pivoted towards agitational street politics, framing his opposition to the government in moral terms rather than conventional electoral strategy. Political analyst Ashutosh defends Gandhi, describing him as a political disruptor who has challenged the ruling party's narrative by constructing an ideological framework centred on secularism, social justice, constitutionalism, and youth engagement. Conversely, political analyst Rajat Sethi questions Gandhi's organizational capabilities and electoral track record, arguing that street protests, rhetorical posturing, and moral messaging cannot substitute for party machinery and grassroots victories. The panel discusses whether Gandhi's agitational positioning effectively reshapes the Congress party or risks alienating the political center.
A political controversy has erupted over allegations labelling the CJP as a front created to aid the Congress. The political outfit was described as an initiative driven by individuals acting as proxies. Claims were made regarding the involvement of around one hundred and eighty non-governmental organisations previously linked with the opposition narrative against the ruling party. The criticism also targeted the opposition youth outreach campaign, questioning the accountability and motives of associated entities.
In this exclusive interaction, former Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed levels serious allegations against the party leadership, claiming his life is under threat following his recent remarks. Ahmed asserts, 'Mr. Rahul Gandhi is the Chief Minister today in Congress,' implying that Rahul Gandhi, not Mallikarjun Kharge, wields absolute control over the party. He details his long history of travelling and working closely with Gandhi but alleges a shift in the leader's strategy to sideline senior veterans in favour of a younger cadre that offers unquestioning loyalty. Ahmed claims that instructions were sent from Delhi to attack his residences in Madhubani and Patna. Having resigned from the party's primary membership two months ago, Ahmed maintains he offered critiques as a well-wisher to address the party's weaknesses. He further alleges that the Congress leadership is insecure about senior leaders with grassroots support and prefers those who only chant 'Rahul, Rahul.' The administration has been alerted regarding the alleged threats to his safety.
India Today's Mood of the Nation survey findings show a significant positive trend for Rahul Gandhi, with 50% of respondents rating his performance as the Leader of Opposition as 'good'.
Fifty-two percent of respondents believe Narendra Modi is best suited to lead the country, compared to 25% for Rahul Gandhi, according to the India Today Mood of the Nation survey.
The Supreme Court has stayed criminal defamation proceedings against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks alleging China's occupation of 2,000 square kilometers of Indian territory.
The Allahabad High Court has dismissed Rahul Gandhi's plea to quash summons in a defamation case related to his 2022 comments about Indian soldiers during the Tawang clash.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has mocked Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, calling it 'Bharat Todo Yatra'. Adityanath accused Gandhi of creating a north-south divide and criticising India when abroad. He referred to Gandhi as 'namuna' (specimen), stating such examples are necessary in BJP's politics. The Congress party has responded, criticising the UP government's handling of development and women's safety issues.
Around the world, legislative chambers are becoming battlegrounds.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted an old video of him doing Jiu-Jitsu during the Bharat Jodo Yatra on his social media account Instagram on the occasion of National Sports Day.
Addressing the INDIA bloc's rally in Mumbai on Sunday after the conclusion of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Rahul Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi won’t be able to win the Lok Sabha elections without “EVMs, ED, CBI and Income Tax”.
At least two people were killed after a five-storey under-construction building collapsed in Kolkata. A total of 13 people have been rescued so far and a search is underway to locate more survivors in the debris. In other news, Several leaders of the INDIA bloc took part in the mega rally held as part of the conclusion of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Mumbai and attacked the BJP. The Congress's rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai marked the culmination of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which had commenced from strife-torn Manipur on January 14.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer once told him that only he could defeat incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also said that PM Modi is scared of him.
National Conference Chief Farooq Abdullah, addressing the opposition INDIA bloc rally at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, asked voters to "check the paper and verify votes". He labelled electronic voting machines as "thief".
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday paid floral tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. He was accompanied by the party's general secretary Priyanka Gandhi and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav chose not to attend the INDIA bloc's rally in Mumbai. It was as part of Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra's final leg.
Congress on Wednesday announced Nari Nyay, a five-promise guarantee aimed at the empowerment of women.
