KTR seeks explanation from Rahul Gandhi on promises

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, accused India of losing its democratic system since 2014 in his speech at the Bharat Summit 2026. He emphasized that money power and the capture of institutions have transformed the country's political landscape, pushing Opposition parties to the sidelines. Gandhi claimed that millions of dollars were spent on the electoral system during the 2014 Lok Sabha election, leading to a new type of politics that left Opposition parties in disbelief.

The trend persisted in subsequent elections, with the ruling party enjoying substantial financial resources while democratic parties struggled to compete. The Congress leader explained that it took the Opposition nearly a decade to fully grasp the extent of these changes in India's political and electoral system. He attributed the marginalization of Opposition parties to the increasing influence of money power, divisive politics, and the alleged capture of institutions.

Gandhi promised social security, including accident and health insurance, for gig workers in Telangana, with a mechanism for social security contributions through transactions. He pointed to the changing electoral trends based on analyses of election results across states, citing the Maharashtra elections as an example where the Opposition secured similar vote counts in both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, but the outcomes were vastly different.

He alleged that nearly seven million new voters were added to the electoral rolls in the three months before the Assembly election, all of whom voted for the BJP. Gandhi also apologized to international delegates who were denied visas or entry into India during the Bharat Summit, attributing this to the current state of affairs in the country.

Despite these challenges, he expressed confidence that the situation would improve and vowed to combat what he described as fascist forces gaining traction globally, vowing to do so through love and non-violence while maintaining faith in the ability of democratic and progressive forces to bring about change.