New Delhi– As Rahul Gandhi completed his first year as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha last month, the Congress Party on Wednesday reflected on a politically eventful 12 months and highlighted major milestones achieved under the leadership of the Gandhi scion.
Rahul’s tenure, though just a year old, has been marked by several significant moves — from pressuring the central government to announce a nationwide caste census, to forcing a rollback of the lateral entry notification, and energizing national discourse around the “Save the Constitution” campaign.
Assuming the role of LoP under challenging circumstances, the Rae Bareli MP is credited by many within his party for steering a weakened Congress toward renewed credibility and influence as the primary opposition force.
For a decade, the Lok Sabha functioned without an official Leader of Opposition due to no party meeting the 10% seat threshold — the minimum required under parliamentary rules. That changed after the 2024 general elections, in which the Congress won 99 seats, its best performance in ten years.
Rahul Gandhi took on the LoP mantle in June 2024 and has since led a diverse, and at times divided, opposition alliance against the Modi-led government. Although the INDIA bloc — which jointly contested the 2024 election — fragmented after the polls, Rahul remained firm in his role, confronting the government both inside and outside Parliament.
In Parliament, he has emerged as a vocal and combative leader. His debut speech as LoP — themed “Daro mat, darao mat” (Don’t fear, don’t intimidate) — captured national attention. In one of his most dramatic moments, Gandhi compared the Manusmriti with the Constitution, accusing the ruling party of favoring the former, which he claimed promotes caste-based discrimination.
His repeated calls to “save the Constitution” from what he describes as the government’s authoritarian tendencies gained traction during the 2024 elections and helped frame the narrative that democratic institutions were under serious threat.
Over the past year, Rahul delivered 16 speeches in Parliament, frequently criticizing the government’s budget and policies, which he argued benefit billionaires at the expense of India’s poor and marginalized communities.
Among his notable initiatives as LoP was Jan Sansad, a unique platform that enabled citizens and community groups to bring their concerns directly to Parliament. Rahul hosted various delegations within the Parliament complex, reaffirming his belief that the legislature should be a platform for meaningful public engagement.
During one session, he met with farmers — referred to as “Annadatas” — who had reportedly been denied a meeting with Delhi government officials. They discussed pressing issues such as farm debt, crop prices, and the demand for a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP).
He also met with the OBC Employees Federation to hear concerns about representation and opportunities in government jobs. Rahul has strongly advocated for equitable representation, consistent with the Congress campaign slogan, “Jitni abadi, utna haq” (Equal rights for every community, proportional to their population).
The Modi government’s eventual announcement of a caste census — a longstanding Congress demand — was seen as a political win for Rahul, even as the ruling BJP described it as a move toward broader social justice.
Beyond his official role, Rahul Gandhi has worked to galvanize public opinion on issues affecting ordinary Indians. While Mallikarjun Kharge remains the party president, many within Congress attribute the party’s renewed vigor to Rahul’s energetic and hands-on leadership style.
Over the past year, he has traveled to 16 states, held more than 60 public rallies and over 115 interactive sessions with citizens. He also held 18 press conferences, using each to hold the central government accountable on a range of issues.
While critics remain skeptical, supporters believe that Rahul Gandhi’s transformation into a sharper, more assertive political leader may have redefined what it means to be the Leader of Opposition in modern India — and potentially reshaped his political future. (Source: IANS)
