BJP Alleges Internal Rift in Congress, Accuses Rahul Gandhi of Sidelining Priyanka Vadra

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday, November 1, 2026, claimed a significant split within the Congress party, alleging the emergence of two camps led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra accused Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, of actively sidelining his sister, preventing her from speaking at two key INDIA bloc protests, fearing he might be overshadowed. Patra made these assertions in a video message posted on Instagram, as reported by The Hindu.

Patra specifically highlighted two events: a mock Parliament organized by the Congress and led by Rahul Gandhi, and a mammoth rally at Ramlila Maidan. He observed that during the mock Parliament, where even non-parliamentarians were given a chance to speak, Priyanka Vadra was not afforded an opportunity by Rahul Gandhi or the Congress party. Similarly, on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at the Ramlila Maidan rally, despite others expressing their views, Priyanka Vadra appeared unhappy and was again not given a chance to speak, according to Patra.

The BJP spokesperson questioned the dynamics within the Gandhi family, asking, “Could it be that a political game is being played within the Gandhi family itself? Could it be that Rahul Gandhi fears that if Priyanka Vadra is projected as a leader, he might be sidelined? Is this why Priyanka Vadra's vote has also been stolen within the Gandhi family?” These remarks underscore the BJP's narrative of internal power struggles within the principal opposition party.

Adding to these allegations, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari echoed concerns about the potential emergence of a "Rahul camp versus Priyanka camp" within the Congress. Bhandari accused Rahul Gandhi of suppressing his sister's political ascent, noting that Priyanka, a former Congress general secretary, was not allowed to address the gathering at Ramlila Maidan by her brother. He also pointed out that during the mock parliament, which he termed Rahul Gandhi's "100th relaunch exercise," Priyanka Gandhi was seated in the second row and denied the opportunity to speak. Bhandari further questioned if this indicated an insecurity within the "Rahul camp" and suppression of the "Priyanka camp," suggesting Rahul Gandhi's focus was on pushing his sister into the background rather than on the country or the party.

The INDIA bloc's protests included a symbolic "public impeachment" of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday, October 31, 2026, where they alleged that voting rights were under threat due to the poll panel functioning at the behest of the Modi government. The Sunday rally at Ramlila Maidan was held against alleged electoral irregularities and voter list revision, providing the backdrop for these BJP claims.

What to watch: Congress's response to these internal rift allegations.

Editor's note: The draft is comprehensive, covering the specific allegations, the events mentioned, the speakers involved, and the context provided in both the summary and full text.