Festive greetings set the tone, but politics remained on the table as Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi hosted his first Diwali Milan with senior Congress leaders on Friday. Days after the INDIA bloc’s massive Ramlila Maidan rally, the gathering carried a message of unity and renewed confidence, with discussions on sustaining the campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and on removing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh, Sachin Pilot, Kumari Selja, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and D K Shivakumar attended the get-together at Gandhi’s 5, Sunheri Bagh residence. Former chief ministers Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Bhupesh Baghel, Ashok Gehlot, Harish Rawat and Digvijaya Singh were also present.
Several leaders described the occasion as a family reunion, coming as the Congress seeks to sustain its campaign against alleged “vote theft” ahead of Assembly elections in key states, including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Shivakumar said Gandhi’s message centered on unity and strengthening the organization, particularly workers who had remained loyal to the party.
“He wants all the workers and cadres who have worked for the party, stayed with the party, remained loyal to the party, and continued working for it to grow stronger and better,” he told the media. “It was a Diwali celebration… We share love, unity, and peace.”
Baghel said Gandhi met leaders individually, with conversations spanning personal matters, politics and the organisation. “Most importantly, it is the festival of Diwali. Everyone exchanged greetings and best wishes,” he said.
A senior leader told TNIE that the gathering was an effort to strengthen bond among party leaders. T S Singh Deo said he met at least 50 people, including colleagues he had not seen for months or even years.
“The Congress is one big family,” Singh Deo said. “It was an opportunity to meet and interact. An opportunity to connect with one another.”
Punjab Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa echoed the festive mood: “There was less political talk and more ‘gup-shup’ and celebration. It was good to meet people I have worked with for 30-40 years.”
Several leaders, however, said SIR figured prominently in conversations, and sustaining the momentum across states, particularly those heading for assembly elections in 2027, would require extensive mobilisation.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to an open debate on SIR, responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s offer of a parliamentary discussion.
“Amit Shah ji, don’t confuse Modi ji. Just convince him to have an open debate with me. Any platform, any time,” Gandhi wrote on X. He shared a video contrasting Shah’s earlier remarks opposing a discussion on SIR in Parliament with his latest offer.
Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned the shift in Shah’s position. “He claims in Parliament that a discussion cannot take place, yet outside, he demands that it be discussed in Parliament,” he said. “Go ahead, have the debate. The nation wants to hear it.”
