BJP Slams Rahul Gandhi’s Late Bihar Poll Entry, Calls Him a ‘Political Tourist’
Patna | TheTrendingPeople.com | October 29, 2025: As Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched his campaign for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections with back-to-back rallies in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga on Wednesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took a sharp dig at his timing — labelling him a “political tourist” who shows up only during elections.
BJP Mocks Rahul Gandhi’s Timing and Involvement
Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad questioned Gandhi’s sudden reappearance on the Bihar political scene.
“Is Rahul Gandhi a tourist in Bihar? He had been missing for quite some time, and now he has suddenly appeared. If Rahul Gandhi is a political tourist, then Bihar welcomes all tourists, and we also extend our greetings to ‘tourist Rahul,’” Prasad said while addressing the media in Patna.
Prasad’s comments came shortly after Gandhi’s campaign kickoff event in Muzaffarpur, which marked his first major appearance in the state since the election dates were announced.
Echoing similar criticism, Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin accused Gandhi of neglecting the state’s political landscape.
“After so many days, Rahul Gandhi has suddenly remembered that elections are taking place in Bihar. He went there to drop ‘atomic and nuclear bombs,’ but ended up scoring a self-goal instead,” Nabin remarked sarcastically.
He further questioned Gandhi’s seriousness about the polls, adding,
“He probably doesn’t even remember the dates of the Bihar elections, and if you ask him, he wouldn’t be able to tell.”
Rahul Gandhi Targets BJP and Nitish Kumar Government
At his rally in Muzaffarpur, Gandhi fired back at both the BJP and the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar, accusing them of running a “remote-controlled” administration.
“I agree with Tejashwi Yadav, who spoke just before me, that the government in Bihar is being run through remote control. They are simply using the face of Nitish Kumar,” he told a cheering crowd.
Gandhi’s speech focused on issues of governance, inequality, and social justice — themes that have become central to the Congress-led opposition alliance’s campaign.
‘BJP Against Social Justice’: Gandhi’s Broader Critique
The Congress leader also directed sharp criticism at the ruling BJP at the Centre, calling it “against social justice.”
“It was only after sustained pressure from the opposition that the Narendra Modi government agreed to conduct a caste census,” Gandhi said.
He claimed that the BJP had initially resisted the idea of a caste-based census to avoid addressing the “real issues of inequality and representation.”
The Bihar caste census, completed earlier this year, revealed new demographic data that opposition parties, including the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), are using to demand greater economic and social representation for marginalized groups.
‘Two Indias Are Emerging,’ Says Gandhi
Continuing his attack on the central government, Gandhi said that “two Indias are emerging” — one for the wealthy and another for ordinary citizens struggling with unemployment and inflation.
“There is one India for a handful of billionaires and another for the poor and the middle class. This is the reason that states like Bihar continue to suffer from poverty, despite their enormous potential,” he said.
He argued that economic inequality and lack of investment were stifling Bihar’s growth, while government policies favored a small section of industrial elites.
The Political Context: Bihar’s High-Stakes Election
The Bihar Assembly elections 2025 are being closely watched, as they represent a key battleground ahead of the 2026 general elections. The contest will test the strength of the INDIA alliance — comprising the Congress, RJD, and Left parties — against the ruling NDA, led by the BJP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United).
The Election Commission of India has announced that polling will take place in two phases — on November 6 and November 11 — with results to be declared on November 14.
- Phase 1: 121 constituencies will vote.
- Phase 2: 122 constituencies will go to the polls.
With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect across the state.
What’s at Stake for Rahul Gandhi and Congress
Rahul Gandhi’s late but high-profile entry into the Bihar campaign reflects both the Congress’s renewed attempt to regain relevance in the state and the alliance’s effort to project unity.
Political observers note that Gandhi’s presence could help the INDIA bloc energize its voter base, particularly among youth and marginalized communities. However, the BJP is expected to use his “political tourist” label to question his consistency and connect with Bihar’s electorate.
For Gandhi, the Bihar campaign comes at a critical juncture as he attempts to reposition himself as a pan-India opposition leader, having recently taken charge as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha following the 2024 general elections.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
Rahul Gandhi’s re-entry into Bihar’s political arena has reignited an intense war of words between the BJP and the Congress. While his speeches in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga sought to highlight issues of inequality and social justice, the BJP’s swift counterattacks underscore the polarized nature of the campaign.
As Bihar heads into its two-phase election, Gandhi faces the dual challenge of reviving Congress’s grassroots presence and countering the BJP’s narrative of inconsistency and detachment. Whether his late arrival will energize the INDIA bloc or simply reinforce the BJP’s “political tourist” jibe remains to be seen.