📷 Image Credits: Mint
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for allegedly encouraging his fellow MPs to heckle Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech in the lower House. BJP’s IT cell head, Amit Malviya, compared the incident to Rahul’s mother, Sonia Gandhi, heckling then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Malviya stated that ‘Modi is no Vajpayee and Rahul isn’t Sonia either.’ A video shared by BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla shows Rahul Gandhi urging other MPs to disrupt the prime minister’s speech by storming the well of the House in protest. Poonawalla questioned Rahul’s position as Leader of the Opposition, asking if he even deserved the role. The situation escalated as the Opposition demanded a government statement on the violence in Manipur, accusing the ruling party and PM Modi of lying. Amid continuous sloganeering, PM Modi devoted a significant portion of his speech to attacking the Congress and Rahul Gandhi. He took jibes at the Congress leader, referring to him as ‘baalak buddhi’ and ‘tumse na ho payega’, criticizing the party’s performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The comparison was also drawn with the 2004 elections when Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s NDA government faced an unexpected defeat despite favorable public opinion. Modi’s popularity ratings in 2024 were similar to Vajpayee’s in 2004, highlighting a parallel between the two leaders’ situations. The article delves into the dynamics of election outcomes and the impact of alliances and media coverage on political scenarios. The authors explore possible scenarios where a slight swing against the NDA could have led to a different electoral outcome. They emphasize the role of alliances in bolstering the numbers for the ruling party and the importance of media coverage in shaping public perception. In conclusion, the article highlights the fine margins that determined electoral results and reflects on the factors that potentially saved the BJP from a comprehensive defeat. It raises questions about the influence of alliances and media narratives in shaping political outcomes, shedding light on the intricacies of electoral strategies and public perception.
