New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on the rally held by Rahul Gandhi and the opposition at Ramlila Maidan. Releasing images of the venue, the BJP pointed out that 45 percent of the Ramlila Maidan remained empty; even with multiple parties joining forces, they failed to fill the grounds.

Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s jibe in which he likened the gathering to a “procession of Lord Shiva” (Shivji ki baraat) the BJP retorted that this was not a divine procession, but rather a chaotic spectacle. BJP leader Sambit Patra remarked that those who cannot distinguish between the Shiv Tandav (the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva) and a Shivji ki baraat have the audacity to speak about spirituality.

Commenting on the opposition’s protest at Ramlila Maidan, the BJP spokesperson stated that he had been monitoring the event from the start, only to conclude that it was ultimately a waste of time. “The Congress party and Rahul Gandhi’s team kept claiming that 10 lakh (one million) people would attend but that did not happen,” he said. Sambit Patra then presented a video of the Ramlila Maidan, explaining, “Rahul Gandhi and his team claimed 10 lakh people would show up—that was their own calculation. The Ramlila Maidan spans 10 to 12 acres.

The stage occupied 15 percent of the space, and another 40 percent was left vacant, covered only by tents. In total, only 28,000 seats were set up. At 4:00 PM, the ground was largely empty. Where were the 10 lakh people? Show us! They’ve used ‘trick photography’ to create the impression that a large crowd was present this is the same kind of ‘math’ they apply to everything else.” The BJP stated that all parties within the ‘INDIA’ alliance had come together for this demonstration. Despite the presence of numerous flags, they failed to gather a large crowd simply because they did not put in the necessary hard work. Sambit Patra remarked that the opposition attempted to make the Ramlila Ground appear full through the use of ‘trick photography.’

He asserted that one cannot become a leader or a Prime Minister through such tricks. “One does not become a leader or a Prime Minister through tricks,” he said. “Being a Prime Minister requires sweat and hard work; that is how one attains the position. Had these parties put in the effort, the Ramlila Ground would have been full.”

The BJP also targeted Rahul Gandhi for labeling the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as ‘illegal.’ They questioned whether Rahul Gandhi was implying that he himself had been elected through illegal means. Sambit Patra asked, “It is surprising that Rahul Gandhi’s speeches are never updated. He demands that Gyanesh Kumar must step down, claiming he ‘won’t be able to sleep.’ But Gyanesh Kumar was not even in the picture in 2024 he only assumed that role in 2025! If the election was illegal, then you, too, were elected illegally, and your leaders are also ‘illegal’ meaning Kharge-ji is an ‘illegal’ MP, and your other leaders are ‘illegal’ as well. If an election were truly illegal, one wouldn’t wait two and a half years to protest; one would have approached the Supreme Court immediately. Name even one instance where any party has protested before the Supreme Court regarding the 2024 elections.”

It is worth noting that the primary opposition alliance, the ‘INDIA’ bloc, held its highly anticipated rally at the Ramlila Ground on November 1st. Nearly all the prominent leaders of the ‘INDIA’ bloc participated in the event, with the alliance claiming that hundreds of thousands of people attended. Meanwhile, the BJP has questioned this claim. During the rally, Rahul Gandhi and other leaders launched a scathing attack on PM Modi, Amit Shah, and Gyanesh Kumar.

Rahul Gandhi stated that, at the behest of PM Modi, Gyanesh Kumar has attacked the Constitution of India the very soul of the nation. He asserted that PM Modi, Amit Shah, and Gyanesh Kumar would not be allowed to escape; they would face punishment under the law for their actions. Furthermore, the Congress leader claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were illegal, alleging that the Election Commission had engaged in irregularities during the process.

Report : Abhijit Tushar Bhatt (Political Editor)