Rahul Gandhi is an Indian politician and a member of Indian National Congress (INC). He is the son of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and veteran Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. Gandhi is the heir of the powerful Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty and is one of the most prominent politicians in the country.
Gandhi was born on June 19, 1970, and is a graduate of Rollins College, Florida. He has completed his M.Phil from Trinity College, England. He established a technology-based outsourcing firm in Mumbai, Backops Services Pvt Ltd after he returned to India.He has a younger sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, is the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee and the in-charge of Uttar Pradesh.
Rahul Gandhi entered active politics in 2004 and got elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time from Amethi constituency. He was appointed as the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee in 2017 and was also given the charge of the Indian Youth Congress and the National Student Union of India. He was re-elected to the Lok Sabha from the Amethi constituency in 2009 and was elevated to the post of Vice-President of the Congress party in the same year.
Gandhi retained his Amethi seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and became the President of Indian National Congress in 2017. However, he lost the same seat in 2019 to BJP's Smriti Irani but won from Wayanad. He resigned from the post of President on July 3, 2019 after the party's poor performance in the 2019 General Elections.
This special report focuses on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's massive roadshow in Patna, a major show of strength by the BJP in its Bihar bastion ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The coverage delves into the competing campaign narratives of development versus the RJD's 'Jungle Raj' and features a sharp rebuttal from senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad to opposition attacks. Prasad stated, 'If Rahul Gandhi does not know how to respect the post of Prime Minister, then he is sanskaraheen (uncultured/lacking values).' The report captures the charged atmosphere on the ground, analyzing the BJP's strategy to energize its base and the significance of the Prime Minister leading the campaign from the front in a crucial state like Bihar. It also touches upon the absence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar from the event, which was explained by his engagement in parallel public meetings.
This special report focuses on the political face-off during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow in Patna, Bihar, featuring BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad and his sharp rebuttal to comments made by Congress's Rahul Gandhi. Reacting to Rahul Gandhi calling the Prime Minister 'darpok' (coward), Ravi Shankar Prasad stated, 'If Rahul Gandhi does not know how to respect the post of the prime minister, then he is sanskaar heen (lacking in values)'. The segment captures the heated election atmosphere as Prasad defends the Prime Minister and the NDA's development model. He dismisses allegations of internal conflict within the Mahagathbandhan as public knowledge and criticises Gandhi for his statements, asserting that such remarks are unbecoming of a political leader from a family of prime ministers.
Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi joined locals in Begusarai by jumping into a pond and taking part in the traditional fish-catching process. VIP chief and Mahagathbandhan’s Deputy CM candidate Mukesh Sahani, along with Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar and others, also participated in the event.
This special report focuses on the high-octane political battle in Bihar, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigning actively. It examines Rahul Gandhi's outreach in Khagaria, where he was seen with the local fisherman (Mallah) community, a move seen as a strategic effort to woo the state's powerful EBC vote bank in alliance with Mukesh Sahani. India Today's Moushmi Singh reports, '...there Rahul Gandhi, you know, sending a loud and clear political message that not only do we do we stand with the community, but we understand the problems that they are confronted with.' The report analyses this campaign strategy targeting the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), who constitute about 36% of Bihar's population, and are a politically influential group. With both the Mahagathbandhan and the NDA holding rallies across the state, the segment highlights the intense fight for every vote in this crucial electoral battleground.
This special report covers the escalating war of words in Bihar, focusing on Rahul Gandhi's sharp attacks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during election rallies in Begusarai and Khagadiya. A key quote from the report is Rahul Gandhi's jibe: 'Prime Minister claims 56 inch chest but he is coward'. The programme also delves into the high-stakes battle in the Mokama constituency, a 'clash of the two Bahubalis,' featuring JDU's Anant Singh and Veena Devi, wife of Surajbhan Singh. It highlights the rising local tensions following the arrest of Anant Singh in a murder case, with Mahagathbandhan leader Tejashwi Yadav also campaigning in the volatile region and raising the issue of law and order.
DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi addresses Prime Minister Narendra Modi's allegations from a Bihar election campaign that the DMK insults migrant workers. Responding to the controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Kanimozhi states it is a 'murder of democracy', alleging an attempt to remove the votes of minorities, Dalits, and women. The discussion also touches upon the DMK-Congress alliance, with Kanimozhi defending CM M.K. Stalin's joint campaign appearances with Rahul Gandhi. Additionally, she comments on the internal turmoil within the AIADMK, following the expulsion of senior leader K.A. Sengottaiyan by Edappadi K. Palaniswami, and reiterates the DMK's stated belief in wanting a strong opposition for a healthy democracy.
In a candid conversation with India Today, Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar discussed his political journey, his equation with Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, and the political landscape of Bihar as the state gears up for assembly elections.
This special report focuses on former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin being sworn in as a minister in the Telangana government led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. Azharuddin addresses the opposition's charge that his appointment is a move to appease Muslim voters ahead of the Jubilee Hills by-poll, stating, 'That is not the right attitude for people to think, you know, because the ministry and the election are two different things'. His induction provides the first representation from the minority community in the Revanth Reddy cabinet. The by-election in Jubilee Hills, where Azharuddin unsuccessfully contested in the 2023 assembly polls, was necessitated by the death of the sitting BRS MLA. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, Azharuddin thanked the Congress high command, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and outlined his priority to work for the upliftment of the poor.
This special report focuses on former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin's new political innings after being sworn in as a minister in the Telangana government under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. Responding to opposition claims that his appointment is minority appeasement for the upcoming Jubilee Hills bypoll, Azharuddin stated, 'That is not the right attitude for people to think because the ministry and I mean election are two different thing.' His induction makes him the first Muslim minister in the current cabinet. In an exclusive interview with India Today, Azharuddin expressed gratitude to the Congress high command, including the Gandhi family and CM Revanth Reddy, and stated his primary goal is to work for the 'upliftment of the poor people'. This development comes after Azharuddin's defeat in the 2023 Jubilee Hills assembly election.
The political temperature in Bihar soars as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi trade blows on the campaign trail. This special report covers the war of words, including PM Modi's '5K' slogan—Katta, Krurtha, Katutha, Kushaasan, and Corruption—aimed at the RJD-Congress alliance, and the massive controversy over Chhath Pooja. The rhetoric intensified after Rahul Gandhi's comment where he said, '...aap unko kaho ki dekho bhaiya hum aapko vote denge aap stage par aa ke nach lo woh nach le'. PM Modi hit back, accusing the opposition of insulting the faith of Biharis for votes. The report also touches on Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the government over the polluted Yamuna river, all while the state heads for crucial polls.
With just a week to go for the high-stakes Bihar Assembly polls, the ruling NDA and the Mahagathbandhan have been trading barbs with Chhath Puja and power politics dominating the political battle in the state.
This special report details the political fallout from remarks by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi during rallies in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has filed a complaint with the Election Commission, accusing Gandhi of a Model Code of Conduct violation. The BJP's complaint alleges that Rahul Gandhi's statement is 'highly derogatory, indecent and personal' and 'crosses all boundaries of decency and democratic discourse'. The report covers the controversial comments where Gandhi suggested the Prime Minister would do anything for votes, the Congress party's counter-claims regarding past statements by the PM, and the potential action from the Election Commission. This confrontation highlights the escalating tensions between the two major political parties.
This special report focuses on the escalating war of words in the Bihar elections, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on multiple fronts. The discussion covers the political fallout from Gandhi's remarks calling the Prime Minister's Chhath Puja observance 'drama', which drew sharp rebuttals from PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. A key quote from the transcript attributes this challenge to Rahul Gandhi: 'The Prime Minister must speak on Trump and Trump's Operation Sindoor role.' This refers to Gandhi questioning the Prime Minister's silence over claims made by former US President Donald Trump regarding an Indian military operation. The report, featuring inputs from Rohit Singh in Patna, explores how national, religious, and even international issues have become central to the campaign rhetoric in the high-stakes battle for Bihar.
This special report focuses on a fiery political speech in Bihar, making stunning allegations against the state government under Nitish Kumar and the central government led by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. The speaker claims, 'if someone goes to a Bihar hospital for treatment, they don't come back alive. They die there.' The address further alleges that Nitish Kumar's government is remote-controlled by the BJP and Nagpur. It highlights the creation of 'Two Indias,' citing an instance of a special clean water pond being made for the Prime Minister's bath in the Yamuna while Delhi struggles for clean water. The speech also includes serious accusations of cronyism, stating that land is taken from farmers and given to industrialists like Adani for a nominal sum of one rupee in Bihar, and mentions the Dharavi redevelopment in Maharashtra.
This special report focuses on the political dynamics in Bihar after Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on the Chief Minister's post, featuring an interview with JDU Working President Sanjay Jha. The central point of discussion is that 'Home Minister Amit Shah said in his rally in Bihar that there is no vacancy for Chief Minister in Bihar.' In response, Sanjay Jha asserts there was never any confusion, affirming Nitish Kumar as the undisputed leader of the NDA alliance for the upcoming state elections. Jha counters criticisms of Kumar being 'fragile' or 'ailing,' stating the Chief Minister recently conducted seven public meetings in a single day entirely by road. He dismisses opposition claims about BJP controlling the JDU and predicts a 'landslide' victory for the NDA.
A political firestorm has erupted over remarks on Chhath Puja, with Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the charge against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The controversy ignited after Gandhi, at a Bihar rally, allegedly termed PM Modi's planned participation in Chhath rituals in Delhi a 'drama'. 'Rahul Baba, what do you think? The importance of Chhatt Pooja, the faith of the whole country towards Chhatt Pooja, you will not be able to understand,' Amit Shah stated, directly targeting Gandhi. The BJP has framed Gandhi's comments, which questioned the creation of a separate artificial pond for the PM, as an insult to the sacred festival, Chhath Maiya, and the sentiments of people from Bihar and Purvanchal. The Congress leader's original comments were reportedly a critique of what he saw as a political stunt, contrasting a specially prepared pond with the polluted Yamuna river where other devotees perform rituals.
This special report from Bihar delves into a high-stakes election battle, focusing on the political dynamics between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. It covers Home Minister Amit Shah's endorsement of Nitish Kumar as the Chief Ministerial face and the entry of 25-year-old folk singer Maithili Thakur as a BJP candidate. Rahul Gandhi targeted the ruling alliance, claiming, 'Nitish Ji ka chehra ka praya ho raha hai. Remote control BJP ke haath Mein'. The report also explores the aspirations of young voters and entrepreneurs in Darbhanga, who discuss issues of reverse migration, job creation, and the need for development beyond caste politics. It captures the voices of a new generation questioning the state's trajectory and demanding more from its political leaders.
This special report focuses on the high-stakes battle for the Bihar Assembly elections, debating the roles of key figures like Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, and Nitish Kumar. BJP spokesperson Dhananjay Giri firmly stated, 'Nitish Kumar was the CM, Nitish Kumar is the CM, Nitish Kumar will be the CM'. The discussion analyzes the Mahagathbandhan's strategy of projecting Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate while questioning if Rahul Gandhi's perceived absence from the campaign trail makes him a weak link for the opposition alliance. The debate also scrutinizes the organisational weaknesses of the Congress party in the Hindi heartland and the NDA's reliance on the combined appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to retain power in the state.
As Bihar heads into a fiercely contested election, political temperatures are soaring with Rahul Gandhi joining RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, triggering sharp BJP reactions. Meanwhile, in Delhi, the government's ambitious cloud seeding experiment with IIT Kanpur raises both hope and controversy.
This special report from India Today tracks the escalating campaign for the Bihar Assembly polls, focusing on the political duel between the Mahagathbandhan and the NDA. The report highlights a fiery speech by Rahul Gandhi, who, alongside Tejashwi Yadav, hit the campaign trail for the first time. Taking aim at the Prime Minister, Rahul Gandhi claimed that Mr. Modi 'could even dance on stage if he could get votes from that.' In response, the BJP has slammed the Congress leader for his language. The war of words intensified with Home Minister Amit Shah's sharp counter, labelling the Rahul-Tejashwi duo as dynasts and declaring that neither the Chief Minister's post in Bihar nor the Prime Minister's post in Delhi is vacant. The segment underscores the high stakes for all parties, particularly for Rahul Gandhi, given the Congress's past performance in the Hindi heartland.
