India's Opposition Congress Intensifies Offensive as Rahul Gandhi Leads Charge on J&K, Electoral Integrity in Bihar

The Indian National Congress, which is the principal opposition party against PM Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA govt, has dramatically intensified its campaign to corner the Modi government as Rahul Gandhi leads a renewed national offensive on critical issues such as Jammu and Kashmir statehood, electoral transparency in Bihar, and allegations of large-scale corruption in Puducherry. 

Image Source: Rohini Anand

The party has deployed its top leadership, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and launched an aggressive, coordinated digital outreach to amplify its message across platforms.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Congress has accused the government of failing to restore full statehood despite multiple assurances by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. 

Rahul Gandhi has reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir deserves its full constitutional status and political rights. Congress leaders, including Nasir Hussain and Ghulam Ahmad Mir, stated that even after elections and formation of a council of ministers, all real power continues to rest with the Lieutenant Governor, effectively undermining democratic governance. 

Congress maintains that the delay in restoring statehood is intentional, designed to retain control through the LG’s office.

Party leaders highlighted that the Congress Working Committee had passed a resolution on August 5, 2019, demanding statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. 

Since then, repeated parliamentary interventions, public campaigns and formal letters to the Prime Minister have underscored the party’s commitment. 

The campaign titled "Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq" has gained ground in the region and is aimed at mobilising people around the call for statehood and justice.

Meanwhile, in Bihar, the Congress has alleged that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is being used to target voters from SC, ST, OBC and minority communities. 

Rahul Gandhi has publicly stated that elections are being manipulated through mass voter deletions. He has pointed to findings from the party's in-depth review of voter data in Karnataka and Maharashtra, claiming a similar system is now being applied in Bihar. 

According to Congress leaders like Pawan Khera and Ranjeet Ranjan, nearly 70–72 lakh voters have either been marked dead or missing. 

The party has raised questions on the Election Commission’s process, alleging lack of consent, proof, or valid documentation during voter deletions, and a pattern of the BJP responding to queries directed at the EC and vice versa.

In Puducherry, former Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has made serious corruption allegations against the ruling establishment. He has claimed that liquor licenses were issued in exchange for crores in bribes, that the PWD department operates under a 30 percent commission system, and that construction contracts have been grossly inflated. 

He has demanded a judicial inquiry and accused the Modi government of ignoring corruption in a Union Territory despite its central control. Narayanasamy also criticised the dilution of Puducherry’s spiritual and cultural identity, citing unchecked proliferation of liquor shops and deteriorating public infrastructure.

Rahul Gandhi has been vocal in Parliament and outside, asserting that the INDIA alliance will fight what he calls systemic electoral theft both in legislatures and on the streets. 

He has challenged the Modi government to respond to Donald Trump's repeated claims about brokering a ceasefire during border tensions, stating that the Prime Minister’s silence shows weakness on foreign policy. 

Congress has accused the government of undermining India's diplomatic credibility, pointing to the lack of global support during recent conflicts and contradictory narratives on operations like Sindhuraksha.

The Congress party’s narrative ties together issues of governance, democracy, and corruption, asserting that the BJP is using institutional mechanisms to consolidate power while denying citizens their rights. 

Through a combination of street mobilisation, legal challenges, and digital outreach, the party appears to be preparing for a sustained confrontation in the run-up to the next general elections.