Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi hosted a special Diwali Milan gathering at his official residence located at 5, Sunehri Bagh Road in New Delhi, aiming to foster unity among senior party leaders. The event was attended by Congress General Secretaries, state in-charges, members of the Congress Working Committee, and several other veteran leaders. During the interaction, Rahul Gandhi reportedly asked leaders to continuously raise public-centric issues and remain prepared for a prolonged political struggle. According to sources, he emphasized that this fight is not a matter of a single day or a month, but must continue until the dignity and sanctity of the constitution are fully upheld. Sources also stated that Rahul Gandhi remarked that the current government would fall within a year.
Sharpening Focus on Voter List Allegations
This gathering took place at a time when the Congress party has been aggressively campaigning against the central government and the Election Commission over alleged vote theft and discrepancies in voter lists. The party has been in constant touch with other opposition parties to coordinate on this core issue. On Sunday, November 1, the INDIA bloc organized a massive 'Vot Bachao, Desh Bachao' rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. Just a day prior to the rally, opposition parties had initiated a 'Jana Mahabhiyog' action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Congress has repeatedly accused the Election Commission of failing to play a satisfactory role regarding questions raised about electoral processes and voter list irregularities. While participating leaders described the Diwali Milan as a festive gathering meant for mutual bonding, it is also being viewed as an effort to maintain unity and sustain the momentum of ongoing campaigns.
Proposed Manipur Visit Later This Month
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit Manipur later this month. The Congress party aims to amplify its voice regarding Manipur, which has been grappling with prolonged violence and adverse conditions for a long time. Rahul Gandhi's proposed visit is seen as a part of this broader strategy. The Congress has consistently targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the situation in Manipur, alleging that the central government has failed to show the expected political and administrative seriousness despite the ongoing crisis and violence in the northeastern state. Consequently, Rahul Gandhi's visit could serve as an effort to bring the Manipur issue back to the center stage of national politics, though no official details regarding the exact dates and itinerary of the tour have been announced yet.
Over a Hundred Senior Leaders in Attendance
More than 100 leaders were present at the event hosted at Rahul Gandhi's residence. Prominent attendees included Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vra, Jairam Ramesh, Sachin Pilot, and Kumari Selja. Several prominent chief ministers and senior figures from various states also participated in the gathering, including Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, former Haryana Chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh. Reports noted that Rahul Gandhi walked from table to table, interacting with leaders, extending Diwali greetings, and inquiring about their well-being in a light-hearted atmosphere.
