Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput, reacting to the announcement, drew a public parallel between Machado’s struggle and that of Rahul Gandhi — saying the latter too is fighting to protect India’s Constitution.
The Nobel Committee cited Machado’s years of activism under intense pressure, noting that she has bridged divisions within Venezuela’s opposition and resisted the militarisation of society. She was praised for steadfastly staying in the country despite threats and for advocating nonviolent democratic change.
In his statement on X, Rajput posted an image of Machado alongside Rahul Gandhi, with a Hindi caption asserting that while the Nobel has honored a foreign opposition leader for defending constitutional order, Gandhi is doing a similar job in India. According to media reports, Rajput’s post asked rhetorically whether Gandhi should also be considered for the prize for safeguarding constitutional ideals.
The comparison invited immediate response from observers. Supporters within Congress saw it as a symbolic assertion of Gandhi’s credentials as a democratic leader under pressure, framing India’s current political environment in similar terms of institutional challenge. Critics, however, argued the analogy risked oversimplifying vastly different contexts and conflating domestic political contestation with resistance under authoritarian rule.
Analysts pointed out key contrasts. Machado operates in a system where opposition parties are legally barred, media is tightly controlled, and dissent is often met by arrests or enforced disappearance. Meanwhile, India under its constitutional democracy affords opposition parties space to contest issues and campaign, albeit with political pressures. Some commentators cautioned that using the Nobel laureate’s example to valorise domestic politics may invite criticism of opportunism.
Rajput’s move is part of a broader strategy by Congress to reinforce the narrative that Gandhi has battled systematic erosion of institutional checks. Over recent months, the party has emphasised issues such as alleged manipulation of electoral rolls, attempted dilution of protections for marginalised communities, and scrutiny over judicial and media independence. Rahul Gandhi’s speeches and rallies have repeatedly invoked the language of constitutional defence and institutional integrity.
Political rivals seized on the comparison. Some argued that equating Gandhi with Machado is rhetorically bold but factually strained. Others viewed it as a calculated bid to internationalise the opposition narrative, possibly preparing a case for eventual recognition or support beyond India’s political terrain.
Within the Congress, the remarks were welcomed by many as an affirmation of Gandhi’s broader purpose. Several party leaders remarked privately that the Nobel comparison helps amplify their messaging in national and international forums. Observers in political media noted that the line between symbolic positioning and substantive linkage is thin, and the fallout may depend on how the opposition sustains the narrative.