Lok Sabha Election 2024 | Did Modi's Response Prompt Rahul Gandhi To Clarify His 'Shakti' Remarks?

A target of 370 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha has been set for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with 400 for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as he seeks a third consecutive term. If voted back to power, Modi will become India's first head of government since Jawaharlal Nehru to achieve three consecutive terms.

Congress' Electoral Strategy Amidst Rahul Gandhi's 'Shakti' Controversy

The Congress aims to avoid a third successive national poll loss, having last lost three consecutive elections between 1996 and 1999. Modi aims to match the record of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who won three back-to-back Lok Sabha polls in 1996, 1998, and 1999, despite not completing his full five-year term on two occasions.

Congress's campaign was initially marred by Rahul Gandhi's comments on "shakti," which elicited a strong reaction from the BJP and Modi. Gandhi's remarks, made during the culmination of the Bharat Jodi Nyay Yatra in Mumbai, implied a fight against the concept of "shakti" in Hinduism, suggesting its presence within electronic voting machines and various government institutions used to target opposition leaders.

Modi and Gandhi Clash Over 'Shakti' Interpretation in Political Discourse

Modi responded by emphasizing the significance of "shakti" as representative of every mother, daughter, and sister, asserting his reverence for them and Bharat Mata. He framed the challenge to "eradicate shakti" as one he embraces, emphasizing its universal worship.

Gandhi was compelled to clarify his stance following Modi's rebuttal, accusing Modi of distorting his remarks. He clarified that the BJP's interpretation of "shakti" was not religious but rather associated with "immorality, corruption, and lies." Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress's general secretary, redirected the discourse towards issues such as inflation, unemployment, and economic crises, highlighting the plight of the youth and farmers.

While some Congress leaders acknowledged the ineffectiveness of personal attacks on Modi in electoral outcomes, Rahul Gandhi persisted with the same line of attack.