BJP Couldn’t Cross 400-Seat Mark in Lok Sabha Polls Due to Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra: Deepender Hooda
Ahmedabad, April 9: Congress Member of Parliament Deepender Singh Hooda on Wednesday asserted that the ambitious target of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to win over 400 seats in the last Lok Sabha elections was effectively thwarted due to the impact of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Speaking at a press conference in Ahmedabad during the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session, Hooda highlighted the yatra’s significance in mobilizing public sentiment against the ruling party and strengthening the opposition INDIA bloc.
Hooda, who represents Rohtak in Haryana and is a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), said the 63-day-long journey undertaken by Rahul Gandhi from the violence-hit regions of Manipur to the financial capital of Mumbai played a pivotal role in preventing the BJP from securing its projected majority. The yatra, which began on January 14 and concluded on March 16, just weeks ahead of the multi-phase general elections that commenced on April 19, aimed to address issues of inequality, injustice, and divisiveness.
“The BJP had made tall claims about crossing the 400-seat mark, but due to the widespread response to the Nyay Yatra, they were restricted to only 240 seats. Not only did this yatra halt the BJP’s momentum, it also contributed significantly to the increased seat share of the INDIA alliance,” Hooda stated.
Criticizing the BJP’s ideology, Hooda accused the ruling party of promoting “pseudo nationalism” under the guise of patriotism, which he claimed is only a strategy for power acquisition. “For the BJP, nationalism or ‘Rashtrawad’ is merely ‘Kursivad’—a route to gain control and consolidate authority. Their version of nationalism is divisive, designed to pit communities against each other. Our idea of nationalism, on the other hand, is inclusive and built on unity,” he remarked.
He revealed that the Congress Working Committee has discussed a resolution on nationalism which will be adopted formally during the AICC session. The resolution will articulate the Congress party’s vision of nationalism, centered on democratic values, inclusiveness, and constitutional principles, in contrast to what the party views as the BJP’s opportunistic and divisive approach.
Hooda also emphasized the importance of a caste-based census as a tool for ensuring social justice and equitable resource distribution. He noted that the Congress party is determined to put pressure on the Centre to conduct a nationwide caste census and will soon launch a series of public programmes to mobilize support for the cause. “A caste census is essential for making policies that are truly representative. Rahul Gandhi has taken the lead in championing this demand. He has emerged as the flag-bearer of social justice,” Hooda said.
The press conference, held during the ongoing AICC session being hosted in Gujarat after a gap of six decades, served as a platform for the Congress party to reiterate its key political narratives and sharpen its attack on the BJP’s performance and policies. Hooda concluded by reaffirming the Congress party’s commitment to continue carrying forward the message and momentum of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra through future campaigns focused on equality, justice, and national unity.
