Rahul Gandhi Away, Rivals Move In: How Congress Lost The Narrative On 3 Big Issues

Last Updated:July 13, 2026, 09:44 IST

In politics, visibility matters as much as messaging. Sometimes, being seen is just as important as being heard

Yet another Rahul Gandhi trip has stolen the limelight from the Congress and handed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fresh ammunition. While the Congress is used to Rahul Gandhi leaving for trips abroad, it is the timing of his visit that has raised eyebrows once again.

First, the Congress had planned for Gandhi to criss-cross parts of the country over paper leaks—an emotive issue the party could have effectively used to connect with Gen Z. But apart from holding a public interaction, Gandhi has been missing in action on the issue. In fact, the Congress’s plans, which included Gandhi travelling across the country to meet young people, had to be shelved because he is on a break. Worse still, the attention and focus on the issue have once again shifted to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). This is reminiscent of the time when the Congress failed to read the public mood and allowed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to dominate Delhi politics at its expense.

This time, the Congress has stayed away from supporting the CJP because it knows it poses direct competition. While other opposition leaders have been visiting Jantar Mantar, the Grand Old Party has kept its distance.

The second issue where the Congress failed to seize the narrative is ethanol blending. Here too, the space was taken up by Tehseen Poonawalla and several YouTubers. The Congress briefly raised the issue, but once again lost momentum with Gandhi away.

The third, and potentially one of the most politically useful issues for the Congress, is the Ayodhya donation theft case. It presented an opportunity for Gandhi to take the lead and turn the issue into one that questioned the BJP’s Hindu credentials. But here too, while the Congress has been holding press conferences across the country, Gandhi has been missing in action. Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly election, the political opportunity has instead been seized by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav rather than Gandhi.

The BJP has questioned Gandhi’s absence and asked how the Leader of the Opposition can disappear without disclosing where he is. In the past, the BJP has alleged that he spent an unaccounted Rs 60 crore on his foreign trips. Home Minister Amit Shah had once said in Lok Sabha that a person with a high threat perception was making a mistake by disappearing without informing anyone.

Ironically, the Congress has repeatedly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his official foreign visits while remaining silent on the LoP’s absence. The reality is that many within the party are waiting for Gandhi’s return. Important decisions, including those related to the Punjab crisis and preparations for the upcoming Monsoon Session, are pending. Even during the floods in Wayanad, both the Gandhi siblings have been missing.

In politics, visibility matters as much as messaging. Sometimes, being seen is just as important as being heard.

About the Author

Pallavi Ghosh

Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. S...Read More

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