Senior Congress figures in Karnataka have closed ranks behind Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, accusing Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal of launching politically motivated attacks against the Rae Bareli MP amid intensifying national campaign exchanges.Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara and Congress MLC B K Hariprasad on Thursday criticised Goyal’s remarks targeting Gandhi, arguing that the Bharatiya Janata Party was seeking to divert attention from substantive policy questions by personalising the political contest. Their intervention adds to a widening war of words between the ruling party at the Centre and the principal Opposition as Parliament and the electoral arena converge.
Parameshwara, a former Karnataka Congress president and one-time deputy chief minister, said criticism of Gandhi reflected “nervousness” within the BJP over the Opposition’s attempts to consolidate support. He contended that rather than addressing concerns raised by the Congress on employment, price pressures and institutional accountability, senior ministers were engaging in rhetorical attacks. Hariprasad, a veteran parliamentarian and member of the state’s Legislative Council, echoed that line, asserting that Gandhi’s elevation as Leader of Opposition had sharpened scrutiny of the Union government’s economic and governance record.
The exchange follows comments by Goyal in which he questioned Gandhi’s credibility and political consistency. The Commerce Minister has frequently defended the Centre’s record on economic growth, manufacturing expansion and trade negotiations, positioning the government’s policies as central to India’s rise as a global production hub. In public speeches and media interactions, Goyal has cited improvements in foreign direct investment flows, the expansion of production-linked incentive schemes and gains in export sectors ranging from electronics to pharmaceuticals.
Congress leaders have countered by pointing to uneven job creation, agrarian distress and concerns over small and medium enterprises navigating credit constraints and compliance burdens. Gandhi, who won from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh in the general election and was chosen by the Opposition alliance to lead its parliamentary strategy in the Lok Sabha, has sought to frame the debate around social justice, federal balance and economic equity. His Bharat Jodo Yatra campaigns over the past two years attempted to project a direct connect with grassroots voters across multiple states.
The Karnataka intervention is politically significant. The Congress returned to power in the state in 2023 under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, with Parameshwara serving in a key law-and-order portfolio. Karnataka has often been a testing ground for national narratives, particularly as it remains the only southern state currently governed by the Congress. The party’s leadership there has been vocal in defending Gandhi against what it describes as coordinated attacks from the BJP’s central leadership.
Hariprasad argued that Gandhi’s questions in Parliament and outside on issues such as alleged cronyism and concentration of economic power had unsettled the ruling establishment. He maintained that sharp political criticism was a legitimate part of democratic discourse but should not descend into personal disparagement. Congress leaders in the state also stressed that as Leader of Opposition, Gandhi is constitutionally recognised and entitled to robustly challenge executive policy.
The BJP has consistently dismissed such allegations, accusing the Congress of seeking to undermine economic confidence and of lacking a coherent alternative policy framework. Goyal and other senior leaders have emphasised macroeconomic indicators such as GDP growth rates, infrastructure spending and digital public goods expansion as evidence of policy success. They argue that global headwinds, including supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions, have been managed effectively.
Political analysts observe that the sharpening tone reflects a broader national recalibration following the general election, which delivered a third term to Prime Minister Narendra Modi but with a reduced majority for the BJP compared with 2019. The Opposition alliance increased its seat tally, enabling it to mount a more assertive presence in Parliament. Gandhi’s formal role as Leader of Opposition grants him institutional standing, including participation in key selection committees and oversight forums.