'Rahul trying to sideline Priyanka': BJP's big attack after INDIA bloc's Delhi rally

NEW DELHI: BJP on Sunday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of attempting to sideline his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, alleging that she was deliberately denied an opportunity to speak at the INDIA bloc rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan.

BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari claimed that the developments reflected growing divisions within the Congress, with the Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi camps competing for influence within the party. "Priyanka Vadra, who has served as the General Secretary of the Congress Party and is Rahul Gandhi’s sister, was not allowed to speak today at the Ramlila Ground. Did Rahul Gandhi prevent her from speaking today?" Bhandari said.

He further alleged that Priyanka was kept in the background during Saturday's mock parliament exercise, which he described as Rahul Gandhi's relaunch exercise. "And not just today, even yesterday during the Mock Parliament, when Rahul Gandhi's relaunch exercise was taking place, Priyanka Vadra's chair was placed in the second row, and she was not allowed to speak there either," he said.

"The Rahul camp is insecure about the Priyanka camp, and the Priyanka camp is being suppressed," Bhandari alleged, claiming that Rahul Gandhi was more concerned about sidelining his sister than addressing issues concerning the country or the Congress. "Rahul Gandhi, who is undergoing his hundredth relaunch, is not talking about the people of the country or about the Congress Party today; instead, he is merely trying to sideline Priyanka Gandhi Vadra," he added.

"Between Rahul versus Priyanka, the Congress is divided into two factions, and the public is watching this fight while eating popcorn," the BJP spokesperson said.

The BJP's attack came as Rahul Gandhi led the INDIA bloc's rally against alleged electoral irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Addressing supporters, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah over allegations of 'vote chori'.

Gandhi warned that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar would be removed from his post and face imprisonment, while asserting that Modi and Shah would also face legal action over the alleged electoral irregularities.

"After Gyanesh Kumar, we will stand against you," Gandhi said, warning the BJP leadership not to think it could escape accountability. The rally was attended by several INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, among others.