'Smallest Disturbance Can...', Says Rahul Gandhi On 'Very Fragile' NDA Government

Congress leader and Raebareli MP Rahul Gandhi has characterised the 2024 Lok Sabha election results as a "tectonic shift" in Indian politics which reflects critical changes in the political landscape.

Despite BJP-led NDA securing a third term with 293 seats, the saffron party itself fell short of an outright majority, winning only 240 seats out of the 543 contested.

"The space in the Indian political system has been blown open. A tectonic shift has taken place in Indian politics. The numbers are such that they are very fragile, and the smallest disturbance can drop the government," Rahul Gandhi told Financial Times in an interview.

Meanwhile, the opposition INDIA bloc exceeded expectations by securing 234 seats, highlighting a robust performance, particularly in Uttar Pradesh - a key battleground state. Congress achieved its best result in 15 years, winning 99 seats, indicating a resurgence under the INDIA bloc's strategy.

Gandhi said that there is a "great discontent" within BJP and the broader NDA, hinting at potential defections and instability within the ruling coalition.

"There are people who are in touch with us from within it," he stated, without going into the details. "Basically, one ally has to turn the other way," he added.

The campaign strategies and issues addressed by the parties also played a crucial role. PM Modi's remarks about the Muslim community where he referred to them as "infiltrators" and concerns over quotas for the marginalised may have alienated some of BJP's vote bank. Meanwhile the INDIA bloc's focus on Dalit rights and fears of constitutional changes resonated with a significant portion of the electorate.

Gandhi's assertion that BJP's strategies from previous elections are "no longer effective", underscores a shift in voter priorities and sentiments. "The party that spent the last 10 years talking about Ayodhya has been wiped out in Ayodhya," he said.

"Essentially what has happened is that the basic architecture of BJP - the idea of creating religious hatred - that has collapsed," he stated.