Rahul Gandhi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Gandhi in 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 9 June 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Gaurav Gogoi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Sushma Swaraj (2014)[a][b] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 4 June 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Sonia Gandhi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | Rae Bareli,Uttar Pradesh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 7 August 2023[1] – 17 June 2024 23 May 2019 – 23 March 2023[9] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | M. I. Shanavas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Priyanka Gandhi Vadra | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | Wayanad,Kerala | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 17 May 2004 – 23 May 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Sonia Gandhi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Smriti Irani | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | Amethi,Uttar Pradesh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Rahul Rajiv Gandhi (1970-06-19)19 June 1970 (age 55) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Indian National Congress | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent(s) | Rajiv Gandhi (father) Sonia Gandhi (mother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (sister) Nehru–Gandhi family | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | The Doon School Rollins College (B.A.) Trinity College, Cambridge (M. Phil.Development Studies) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | Official website | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rahul Rajiv Gandhi (Hindi pronunciation:[ˈraːɦʊlraːdʒiːʋˈɡaːndʱiː]ⓘ; born 19 June 1970) is an Indian politician. A member of theIndian National Congress (INC), he is currently serving as the 12thleader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and as the member of theLok Sabha forRae Bareli,Uttar Pradesh, since June 2024.[c][d] He previously represented the constituency ofWayanad,Kerala, from 2019 to 2024, andAmethi,Uttar Pradesh, from 2004 to 2019. Gandhi served as theparty president of theIndian National Congress from December 2017 to July 2019.
A member of theNehru–Gandhi political family, he spent his early years betweenDelhi andDehradun, remaining largely outside thepublic sphere during his childhood and early youth. He received primary education in New Delhi and then attendedThe Doon School. However, due to security concerns, he was later home-schooled. Gandhi commenced his undergraduate degree atSt. Stephen's College before moving toHarvard University. Following his father'sassassination and subsequent security concerns, he moved toRollins College in Florida, completing his degree in 1994. After earning aM.Phil. fromCambridge, Gandhi initiated his professional career with theMonitor Group, a management consulting firm inLondon. Soon thereafter, he returned to India and founded a technology outsourcing firm based inMumbai. He ventured into politics in the 2000s, leading theIndian Youth Congress andNational Students Union of India, while also being a trustee of theRajiv Gandhi Foundation andRajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust.
Gandhi led the Congress party during the 2014 and 2019 general elections, where the party experienced significant defeats, securing 44 and 52 seats, respectively. Ahead of the2024 Indian general elections, Gandhi spearheaded theBharat Jodo Yatra and theBharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, contributing to the INC winning 99 seats and regaining the status ofOfficial Opposition for the first time in a decade. Gandhi won theRae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency in the 2024 elections and was nominated to serve asLeader of the Opposition.
Gandhi was born on 19 June 1970 at Holy Family Hospital inDelhi.[12] He was the first of two children born toRajiv Gandhi, who later served as the 6th prime minister of India, andSonia Gandhi, who went on to become thepresident of the Indian National Congress. As the grandson of former prime ministerIndira Gandhi, his lineage is deeply rooted in Indian political history. His paternal grandfather,Feroze Gandhi, hailed fromGujarat and was ofParsi descent.[13] Furthermore, he is the great-grandson of India's inaugural prime minister,Jawaharlal Nehru.
Gandhi completed his elementary education atSt. Columba's School in New Delhi.[14] He then attendedThe Doon School in Dehradun (an elite all-boys' boarding school, also the alma mater of his father,Rajiv Gandhi) from 1981 to 1983.[15] At Doon, Gandhi studied alongside notable contemporaries, including former Congress membersJyotiraditya Scindia andJitin Prasada.[16][17] Following theassassination of Indira Gandhi by Sikhs in her personal guard on 31 October 1984, his father entered politics and became the 6th prime minister of India. Due to security threats fromSikh extremists, Gandhi and his sister Priyanka werehome-schooled, taking examinations under the supervision of teachers.[18] Spending their childhood away from media attention, Gandhi andhis sister kept low profiles, appearing with their parents at a handful of public occasions.[19]
Gandhi joinedSt. Stephen's College, Delhi, an affiliated college of theUniversity of Delhi, in 1989 for his undergraduate education.[20] Gandhi's academic performance in Class XII, with a score of 61 per cent in theCBSE school certificate, was perceived as not particularly strong.[21] He gained admission to St. Stephen's College forBA (Honors) History through the sports quota, which granted a 10 per cent advantage in exam scores to promising athletes; perNational Rifle Association of India testimonials, Gandhi stood 4th in the 32ndNational Shooting Competition held in New Delhi from 26 December 1988 to 5 January 1989.[21] Gandhi had finished fourth in the Centre Fire Pistol 25 M (Indian Rule) Men's civilian event with a score of 371 out of 400 points.[21] By July 1989, Gandhi had won eight national awards. In 1991, following theassassination of Rajiv Gandhi by theLTTE during an election rally, Gandhi left St. Stephen's and moved toHarvard University. Due to security concerns, he subsequently relocated toRollins College inFlorida. He further went on to obtain anMaster of Philosophy (MPhil) inDevelopment Studies, fromTrinity College, Cambridge in 1995.[22][23] Following his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in 1991, there was a heightened threat perception to the family, those closest to Gandhi were paranoid about his safety and might have forced him to take cover under the misleading surname "Vinci".[24]
After completing higher education, Gandhi worked at theMonitor Group, amanagement consulting firm set up byMichael Porter ofHarvard Business School, inLondon for three years.[25] In 2002, he returned to India and established histechnology consultancy, Backops Services Private Ltd, inMumbai, where he served as one of the directors of the firm.[26] Subsequently, he founded BackOps UK, a company that secured defence contracts from foreign suppliers.[27]
In March 2004, Gandhi announced his entry into politics by declaring that he would contest the14th general elections from his father's former constituency ofAmethi inUttar Pradesh for theLok Sabha, India's lower house of parliament.[28] His mother had held the seat until she transferred to the neighbouring constituency ofRaebareli. When Gandhi made this announcement, it came as a surprise to political commentators, who had perceived his sisterPriyanka Gandhi as the more charismatic and probable successor. It generated speculation that the presence of a young member of India's most famouspolitical family would reinvigorate the Congress party's political fortunes among India's youthful population.[29] In his first interview with foreign media, Gandhi portrayed himself as a uniter of the country and condemned "divisive" politics in India, saying that he would try to reducecaste andreligious tensions.[30]
After being out of power for a record eight years, the Congress party returned to power, winning a total of 145 seats in the 2004 Indian general election. Acoalition government was formed at the center by Congress with the backing of regional parties. Gandhi secured a victory by a substantial margin of over 100,000 votes, thereby maintaining the stronghold of his family in Uttar Pradesh.[31] The party performed poorly in Uttar Pradesh, as it held 10 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state, with a vote share of 12.53 per cent.[32] Gandhi did not hold any official role or position within the government.[33] From 2004 to 2006, Gandhi served as a member for theStanding Committee onHome Affairs. Between 2006 and 2009, he served as the member of the Standing Committee onHuman Resource Development.[34]
Gandhi and his sister, Priyanka, managed their mother's campaign for re-election toRaebareilly in 2006, which was won with a margin of over 400,000 votes.[35] He was a prominent figure in the Congress campaign for the2007 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election; Congress did not perform well in those elections, winning 22 seats of the 403 seats with 8.53 per cent of the vote.[36] On 24 September 2007, Gandhi was appointed as the general secretary of theAll India Congress Committee, the governing body of the Congress party, as part of a reshuffle of the party secretariat.[37] In the same reshuffle, he was also given charge of theIndian Youth Congress and theNational Students Union of India.[38]
For the2009 Indian general election, Gandhi campaigned across India covering 22 states and 107constituencies.[39][40] His campaigning included addressing public rallies and meetings, interacting with voters, and highlighting the party's vision and agenda for the country.[41] He specifically focused on issues such as rural development, education, employment, and women's empowerment. Gandhi, also emphasised the importance of youth participation in politics and urged them to be more involved in shaping the country's future.[42] The nationwide elections defied the predictions made by pre-poll predictions and exit polls and gave a clear mandate to the incumbent, Congress-ledUnited Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.[43] The 2009 general elections were a success for the INC, which won 206 seats. While the Congress did not win a majority in the election, they emerged as the largest party and formed a coalition government with the support of other parties.[44] Gandhi retained his Amethi seat by defeating his nearest rival by a margin of over 370,000 votes.[45] Gandhi was credited with the Congress revival in Uttar Pradesh where they won 21 out of the total 80 Lok Sabha seats.[46][47]
In September 2007, Gandhi was appointed as general secretary of theIndian Youth Congress (IYC), segment of the Congress party that represents the younger generation, and theNational Students Union of India (NSUI), the faction that caters to the student community.[48] As the general secretary of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI), Gandhi played a notable role in shaping the policies and strategies of these organisations. After his appointment, both groups saw a significant increase in membership, from 200,000 to 2.5 million.[49] The IYC underwent a restructuring process to make it more democratic and inclusive.[50][51] In November 2008, Gandhi held interviews at his 12 Tughlak Lane residence inNew Delhi to handpick at least 40 people to make up the IYC'sthink tank.[52] In 2009, during Gandhi's visit toWest Bengal, the state unit of the Youth Congress registered 1 million members.[53] Similarly, the IYC acquired around 10 to 15 new members per day in each assembly segment of Uttar Pradesh. After his visit, the number surged to 150 to 200 new members per day in the same regions.[54]
While serving as the general secretary of the NSUI, Gandhi played an active role in strengthening the organisation and increasingstudent participation in politics.[50] Under his leadership, the NSUI initiated programs and campaigns to address issues affecting the student community, such as the quality of education, employment opportunities, and social justice.[55][56][57] Gandhi also advocated for greater student representation in decision-making processes and supportedstudent leaders in their endeavours.[58]
Ahead of the2014 Indian general election, Gandhi was named the vice-president of the Indian National Congress, effectively making him the party's second-in-command. Gandhi contested the 2014 Indian general election from his constituency, Amethi,[59] and led the election campaign of the Indian National Congress.[60] Gandhi retained the Amethi seat by defeating his nearest rival, BJP'sSmriti Irani, by a margin of 107,000 votes.[47][61] The Congress party suffered a massive defeat, winning 44 seats—its worst performance ever in the Lok Sabha elections.[62][63] The UPA also had its worst-ever performance in elections and won 59 seats, compared to the 262 seats won in 2009.[63][64][65] Following the defeat, Gandhi offered to resign from his positions which was rejected by the Congress Working Committee.[66]
Gandhi led the2019 election campaign of the Congress party. During campaign, Gandhi announced "Nyay" (Nyuntam Aay Yojana— Minimum Income Guarantee) Scheme promising Rs 6,000 each to 20 per cent poorest households to his election speeches.[67] Gandhi also promised to fill 22 lakhs government jobs within one year coming to power at theCentre. Gandhi used the slogan "Chowkidar Chor Hai" as a jibe against Narendra Modi, BJP's prime ministerial candidate during his election rallies.[68][69] The slogan was aimed at Modi about the alleged irregularities and favouritism in awarding the contracts for theRafale fighter jet deal.[70][71] Post election results the INC won 52 seats, eight more than the previous election. Its vote percentage once again fell below 20 per cent. Gandhi won the Wayanad seat with over 60 per cent vote share.[72] He lost his existing seat of Amethi toSmriti Irani of the BJP by a margin of 55,120 votes.[73]
Ahead of the2024 Indian general elections, Gandhi spearheaded political initiatives, including theBharat Jodo Yatra and theBharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which were designed to address pressing social and economic issues facing the country. These campaigns aimed to foster unity and counter divisive politics, while also enhancing the visibility of the Indian National Congress (INC) among voters. The INC secured 99 seats in the elections, representing an improvement from previous electoral performances and allowing the party to reclaim the status ofOfficial Opposition for the first time in ten years. In the elections, Gandhi successfully won theRae Bareli constituency, succeeding his mother,Sonia Gandhi.
As a member of Parliament of India since 2004, Gandhi has served as a member of severalparliamentary committees includingHome Affairs,Human Resource Development,External Affairs,Ministry of Finance andCorporate Affairs andDefence.
TheNational Herald case revolves around allegations of financial irregularities and misuse of funds related to theNational Herald newspaper. The case garnered attention when formerBJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a complaint accusing Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and five other Congress party leaders—Motilal Vora,Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, andSatyan Pitroda—of cheating and misappropriating funds associated with the National Herald. The allegations by then-BJP leader Subramanian Swamy centered on a loan given by the Congress party to "Associated Journals Limited" (AJL), the company that owned the National Herald newspaper.[74] Subramanian Swamy alleged that the loan, amounting to around₹90 crore (equivalent to₹202 crore or US$24 million in 2023), was not repaid. Instead, it was converted into equity, effectively transferring the ownership of AJL to a new company called "Young India Ltd" (YIL), in which Sonia Gandhi hold 76 per cent of the company's shares, and the remaining 24 per cent are held by Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes.[74] As per Swamy, YIL paid₹54 lakh (equivalent to₹1.2 crore or US$140,000 in 2023) to get back ₹90 crore that Associated AJL owed to the Congress party. He also alleged that the loan given to AJL was illegal, as it had been taken from party funds.[74]
The case went through various legal proceedings, including hearings in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. In December 2015, theDelhi High Court dismissed the appeals of Sonia Gandhi and five others, ordering them to appear in person before the trial court.[75] In 2015, theSupreme Court of India instructed Swamy to present arguments for expediting the trial in the high court. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were granted bail by the trial court on 19 December 2015. Subsequently, in 2016, the Supreme Court exempted all five accused individuals (including the Gandhis, Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, and Suman Dubey) from personally attending court hearings, declining to dismiss the ongoing legal proceedings against them.[74] In December 2020, the Delhi court dismissed a petition filed by then-BJP leaderSubramanian Swamy seeking to summon Rahul and Sonia Gandhi and others as accused in the case. The court held that there was noprima facie evidence to suggest their involvement in any corruption conspiracy.[76] In 2014, theEnforcement Directorate (ED) initiated an investigation into Swamy's complaint to determine if there were any indications ofmoney laundering. The investigation was closed due to technical reasons. Nonetheless, Swamy wrote to prime ministerNarendra Modi expressing his suspicions about ED Director Ranjan Katoch. Subsequently, in 2015, Katoch was replaced, and the case was reopened. In December 2015, thePatiala court granted bail to the five individuals accused in the case.[77] The Congress party objected to Swamy's complaint, calling it “vindictive politics”.[78]
The Bharat JodoYatra, which translates to "Unify India March," was a campaign organised by the Congress party spanning from 2022 to 2023 with the stated primary objective of promoting national unity and solidarity across the various regions of India. It aimed to mobilise support for the INC and its ideology, emphasising themes of patriotism, cultural heritage, and development.[79] Gandhi started the initiative on 7 September 2022 atKanyakumari after paying tributes to his late fatherRajiv Gandhi,Swami Vivekananda, and the Tamil poetThiruvalluvar.[80] The yatra saw Gandhi along with INC leaders, including members of Parliament and notable personalities, travelling across the country, addressing rallies, conducting public meetings, and interacting with citizens. Throughout the yatra, Gandhi focused on issues such aseconomic development,social justice, and inclusive governance, aiming to strengthen the party's grassroots presence and reinvigorate its political relevance on the national stage.[81]
The yatra concluded on 29 January 2023 with the unfurling of thetricolour flag atLal Chowk,Srinagar;[82] it lasted 137 days, covering 4,080 kilometres (2,540 miles) over nearly five months across 12 states and two union territories. During the yatra, the INC elected a newparty president and also won a majority in the2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, the first majority the party had won by itself since 2018. In the subsequent elections in Karnataka and Telangana in 2023, the Congress party achieved a landslide victory, marked by an increase in both the party's vote share and the number of seats compared to the previous elections in the constituencies through which the march had passed.[83]
From 14 January to 20 March 2024, Gandhi led a second yatra across India from east to west, theBharat Jodo Nyay Yatra; unlike the previous version, the Yatra was conducted in a hybrid mode.[84]
On 13 April 2019, during a political rally inKolar,Karnataka, India before the17th general election, Gandhi made a remark in Hindi, questioning, "Why is it that all thieves, whether it beNirav Modi,Lalit Modi, orNarendra Modi, have Modi in their names?".[85] A speech comparing Narendra Modi withFugitive Economic Offenders such asNirav Modi andLalit Modi. A criminal defamation case was filed byPurnesh Modi, aBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA fromSurat West. He alleged that Gandhi had defamed all individuals with the surname Modi. On 16 July 2019, the Surat court excused Gandhi from appearing personally in court due to short notice. On 10 October, he pleaded not guilty in the Surat Court, recording his statements and responding to questions here on 24 June 2021, and again on 29 October. During these appearances, he clarified to the court that he did not intend to defame any community.[86]
On 23 March 2023, Gandhi was convicted and sentenced to two years' imprisonment under charges of defamation. The day following the conviction,Utpal Kumar Singh, the Lok Sabhasecretary general, announced that Rahul Gandhi would be disqualified as a member of parliament representing theWayanad constituency, effective from 23 March, the date of his conviction. The secretary general further said that this action was taken under Section 8 of theRepresentation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA), which deals with the disqualification of convicted representatives in India.[87] Gandhi's lawyerAbhishek Manu Singhvi appealed at the higher court and secured a one-month stay on the sentence.[88] On 5 August, the Supreme Court of India issued a stay on Gandhi's conviction and sentence, handed down by Chief Judicial Magistrate in Surat on 23 March 2023.[89]
The disqualification of Gandhi prompted widespread reactions and responses, from the Congress party as well as other opposition leaders and lawmakers abroad.[90] Legal experts questioned the basis of the charge, as defamation is only actionable against individuals and not a generic class of people.[3] TheUS House of Representatives,Ro Khanna,Democrat co-chair of the India Caucus, described the removal of Gandhi from parliament as a "deep betrayal" of India's "deepest values".[91][92] A spokesperson forGermany's foreign ministry stated thatBerlin had "acknowledged" the verdict and was monitoring the subsequent steps, including the possibility of an appeal and whether the "suspension of his mandate" was deemed justified.[93]US SenatorChris Van Hollen made a separate comment, stating that the news of the disqualification was "alarming".[94]
Following the 2024 general election, he was nominated as the leader of the opposition inLok Sabha, reinforcing his role as a prominent figure within the party and the opposition landscape. In his first year in the role, he made 16 speeches in the17th Lok Sabha, and pressured the government to conduct a nationwidecaste census; this was adopted by the government in April 2025, as announced by theUnion Railway MinisterAshwini Vaishnaw.[95] Gandhi welcomed the decision, calling it "the first step towards deep social reform".[96]
In August 2025, Gandhi alleged irregularities in voter rolls and polling processes, referring to the issue as “vote chori” (“vote theft”), during a press conference on 7 August.[97] He cited examples from constituencies includingMahadevapura in Karnataka and presented documents which he said showed duplicate and fraudulent voter entries. The Election Commission of India subsequently asked him to provide formal evidence supporting the claims or to withdraw them. Later in the month, Gandhi expanded the allegations to cover multiple parliamentary constituencies and took part in public demonstrations organised by the Indian National Congress on the issue.[98]
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In December 2010, during theUnited States diplomatic cables leak,WikiLeaks leaked a cable dated 3 August 2009 after Prime MinisterManmohan Singh had hosted a lunch on 20 July 2009 for Gandhi, then the general secretary of the AICC. One of the guests who was invited for the lunch was theUnited States ambassador to India,Timothy J. Roemer. In a "candid conversation" with Roemer, he said that he believesHindu extremists pose a greater threat to his country thanMuslim militants. Gandhi referred specifically to more-polarising figures in theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Also responding to the ambassador's query about the activities in the region by theIslamist militant organisationLashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Gandhi said there was evidence of some support for the group among certain elements in India's indigenousMuslim population.[99] In a response to this, the BJP heavily criticised Gandhi for his statements. BJP spokespersonRavi Shankar Prasad slammed Gandhi, saying that his language was a bigger threat to India, dividing the people of the country on communal grounds. Speaking to reporters, Prasad said, "In one stroke Mr. Rahul Gandhi has sought to give a big leverage to the propaganda to all the extremist and terrorist groups inPakistan and also some segments of the Pakistani establishment. It would also seriously compromise India's fight against terror as also our strategic security." Adding that terrorism has no religion, he claimed that Rahul Gandhi had shown his lack of understanding India.[100] Gandhi has also been critical of groups like theRSS and has compared them to terrorist organisations likeSIMI.[101][102]
After the2013 Muzaffarnagar riots at aMadhya Pradesh election rally in Indore, Gandhi claimed that a police officer told him that Pakistan's military intelligence service,ISI, was trying to recruit disgruntled riot-affected youngsters.[103][104] The district administration, Uttar Pradesh state government, Union Home Ministry, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) denied any such development.[105][106] This remark drew heavy criticism from various political outfits such as BJP, SP, CPI and JD(U).[107] Congress'sJairam Ramesh said Gandhi needed to apologise to the Muslim community for this remark.[108] In reply to theECI's show-cause notice to explain why action should not be initiated against him for violating the Model Code of Conduct, Gandhi said that he didn't intend to exploit communal sentiments but was referring to divisive politics.[109]
Gandhi opines that theLokpal should be made aconstitutional body and it should be made accountable to the Parliament, just like the Election Commission of India. He opined that Lokpal alone cannot root out corruption, rather a strong political will is needed to remove corruption. This statement came out on 25 August 2011, on the 10th day ofAnna Hazare's fast. Gandhi's statement was considered a delaying tactic by the opposition andTeam Anna's members. It was consequently slammed by opposition leadersSushma Swaraj andArun Jaitley.[110] The Parliamentary Standing Committee led by Abhishek Manu Singhvi tabled theJan Lokpal Bill report in the Rajya Sabha on 9 December 2011. The report recommended the Lokpal be made into a constitutional body.
On 19 April 2015, Gandhi addressed the farmer and worker's rally, named asKisan Khet Mazdoor Rally inRamlila Maidan. Here he made "references to his agitations inNiyamgiri inOrissa and Bhatta-Parsaul in Greater Noida inUttar Pradesh".[111] The rally was attended by 100,000 people. In the speech he gave, he criticised the Indian prime ministerNarendra Modi about his comment inToronto where he said that he was "cleaning the mess created by previous governments".[112] He also said, "Do you know how Modi won the election?... He borrowed thousands ofcrores from industrialists for his several campaigns and advertisements. How will he pay them back? He will pay them back with your land. He will give your land to his industrialist friends."[111]
He razzed the government as a "suit-boot government", a reference to Modi's monogrammed suit which he wore in theRepublic Day meeting withBarack Obama. Moreover, he used the "acche din government" jibe (which was Modi's election campaign slogan meaning "good days government") and mentioned that it had "failed the country".[113]
A land bill was introduced by the BJP government in the parliament in May which was criticised by the opposition parties.[114] Accusing the government of "murdering"UPA's land bill,[115] Gandhi promised to prevent the bill from being passed, if not in the parliament then would "stop you [BJP government] on streets". He further accused the government of diluting the bill and called it "anti-farmer".[114] Gandhi also drew a parallel between "daylight robbery" and the bill.[116] On 26 May, the day of the Modi government's first anniversary, Gandhi commented at a rally inKozhikode "Unfortunately, birthday celebrations is only for a few powerful friends of the government. Kisan, farmers and mazdoor have nothing to celebrate."[117]
"India will be truly successful only when women occupy equal space in our society. They must take their rightful place in politics and shape India's destiny."
Gandhi has spoken publicly about the importance ofwomen's empowerment and gender equality in India.[119][120] While inaugurating 'Utsaah', a KeralaMahila Congress convention in Kochi, Gandhi stated that the Congress party would actively promote women within its organizational structure and set a target to have 50 per cent of women as chief ministers within the next 10 years. Gandhi initiated theSelf-Help Groups among the women in the villages ofAmethi.[121] The primary focus of this scheme was to bring women together and empower them with information and decision making capabilities.[122] He has called for increased representation of women in politics and for the eradication of gender-based violence.[123][124][125] Under thesecond Manmohan Singh ministry, aWomen's Reservation Bill to require that a third of Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly seats be reserved for women was introduced in theRajya Sabha. Gandhi backed the bill, stating, "Women do not need any protection. If you give them their rights, they can protect themselves".[126] This bill passed the Rajya Sabha on 9 March 2010, it never received a vote in the Lok Sabha and eventually lapsed due to its pending status.[127][128][129][130] In 2019, while addressing students inChennai, Gandhi again called for 33 per cent reservation of all parliamentaryLok Sabha and state legislative assembly seats for women, as well as government jobs.[131]
On 6 September 2018, the Supreme Court of India revokedSection 377 of the Indian Penal Code, an act which criminalised homosexual sex between adults. Gandhi supported this move, stating that he believed that issues related to personal freedom should be left to the individual.[132] He opined that it's essential to uphold the constitutional guarantee of life and liberty to all citizens of India.[133] Under Gandhi's leadership, the Congress appointed a transgender woman as national general secretary in thewomen’s wing—seen as a step toward mainstreaming transgender individuals.[134]
Gandhi advocates the transition to renewable energy sources and has called for increased investment in solar, wind, and other sustainable energy technologies.[135] He has been very concerned about theenvironmental degradation of the world and has said that unless environmental problems are made a political issue, they will not get the attention they deserve.[136][137]
Gandhi criticised the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) 2020 draft by calling it "dangerous" and said that its long term consequences will be harmful. Calling it a disaster, he said that it will silence the communities who will be directly impacted by environmental degradation.[138][139]
Gandhi while addressing All India Congress Committee (AICC) inJaipur, called for an end tored tape and outdated laws that slow job creation.[140]Gandhi views the economic policies ofModi Government as fundamentally to benefit the 2-3 billionaires and has described them ascrony capitalists.[141] Calling the "crony capitalists" as best friends of Modi, he has been critical of the privatisation of government assets.[142][143] He is of the view thatRSS and crony capitalists are colluding to control India.[144] He has been specifically harsh on Indian billionaireGautam Adani, to whom he said the Modi Government has been very favourable.[145][146][147] He sees the rise of Adani as a direct consequence of crony capitalism.[148][149] He said that he is not anti-business and supports fairness.[150] Disagreeing with privatisation ofPSUs, he said that Congress will not allow the privatisation if it comes to power.[151][152][153] Citing the report on inequality byOxfam, he said that rising economic inequality is the result of Modi Government's economic policies.[154][155][156]
Gandhi has been very critical of theModi government'sdemonetisation of₹500 and₹1,000 banknotes of theMahatma Gandhi Series.[157] He has called it a "tragedy" and a "disaster" that has negatively impacted the Indian economy and the lives of ordinary citizens. Gandhi has also accused the government of carrying out the policy without adequate planning and causing immense hardship to the poor and vulnerable sections of society. He said that demonetisation is a fundamental failure of policy design[158] and has alleged that it was a deliberate move by "PayPM" to help 2-3 billionaires to monopolise the economy. Terming demonetisation as the country's “biggest scam”,[159]
During his public speeches and political rallies, Gandhi has consistently criticised the demonetisation move, claiming that it failed to achieve its intended objectives of combating black money and curbing corruption.[160] He has also argued that the policy was implemented without proper consultation with experts or theopposition parties. Gandhi further asserted that, demonetisation caused significant disruption to farmers, and rendered millions jobless in small and medium-sized businesses, and workers in the informal sector.[161][162]
| Year | Constituency | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Result | Margin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Amethi | INC | 390,179 | 66.18% | BSP | Chandra Parkash Mishra | Won | 290,853 | ||
| 2009 | 464,195 | 71.78% | BSP | Asheesh Shukla | Won | 370,198 | ||||
| 2014 | 408,651 | 46.71% | BJP | Smriti Irani | Won | 107,903 | ||||
| 2019 | 413,394 | 43.86% | BJP | Smriti Irani | Lost | 55,120 | ||||
| Wayanad | 706,367 | 64.67% | CPI | P. P. Suneer | Won | 431,770 | ||||
| 2024 | 647,445 | 59.69% | CPI | Annie Raja | Won | 364,422 | ||||
| Rae Bareli | 687,649 | 66.17% | BJP | Dinesh Pratap Singh | Won | 390,030 | ||||
In 2004, the Gandhi was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha and served as a member of theStanding Committee on Home Affairs from 2004 to 2006, as well as a member of the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development from 2006 to 2009.[163] In 2009, they were re-elected to the 15th Lok Sabha for a second term and served as a member of the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development, along with being a member of the Consultative Committee on Rural Development.[164][165]
In 2014, Gandhi was elected to the 16th Lok Sabha for a third term and served as a member of theStanding Committee on External Affairs, as well as a member of the Consultative Committee on Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs.[163] In 2019, he was elected to the 17th Lok Sabha for a fourth term and served as a member of theStanding Committee on Defence, as well as a member of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of External Affairs.[166]
In 2024, Gandhi was elected to the 18th Lok Sabha for a fifth term and serves as the 12thLeader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, as well as a member of the Standing Committee onDefence.
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Elected to14th Lok Sabha
|
| 2009 | Elected to15th Lok Sabha (2nd term)
|
| 2014 | Elected to16th Lok Sabha (3rd term)
|
| 2019 | Elected to17th Lok Sabha (4th term)
|
| 2024 | Elected to18th Lok Sabha (5th term)
|
Between 2008 and 2013, Gandhi assumed the role of general secretary within the Indian National Congress (INC).[167] Since 2007, Gandhi has served as the General Secretary of both the Indian Youth Congress and theNational Students' Union of India (NSUI), positions he established and of which he currently holds of Indian Youth Congress.[168] His tenure as vice-president of the INC, established in 2013, lasted until 2016, after which the position was abolished.[169] Subsequently, from 2017 to 2019, Gandhi served as thepresident of the INC, succeedingSonia Gandhi.[170]
| Year | Position | Preceded by | Succeeded by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–2013 | General secretary ofINC | N/A[e] | N/A[f] |
| 2007–Incumbent | General Secretary ofIndian Youth Congress | Position established | Incumbent |
| 2007–2022 | General Secretary ofNSUI | Position established | Mallikarjun Kharge |
| 2013–2016 | Vice president of INC | Jitendra Prasada | Position abolished |
| 2017–2019 | President of INC | Sonia Gandhi | Sonia Gandhi (interim) Mallikarjun Kharge |
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha 09 June 2024 | Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | President Indian National Congress 2017–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Lok Sabha | ||
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forAmethi 2004–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forWayanad 2019–2024 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forRae Bareli 2024–present | Incumbent |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
