‘Congress will surprise…’ Rahul Gandhi predicts Lok Sabha Poll 2024 results

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday expressed confidence in the unity of the Opposition and stated that a hidden undercurrent is building, which will “surprise” people in the next general elections. 

"I think the Congress party will do very well in the next election. I think it will surprise people. Just do the math, a united opposition will defeat the BJP on its own," he said.

"I think there is a hidden undercurrent building…I think (the outcome) will surprise people,” he added.

"Wait and watch the next three or four state elections…. which is a better indicator of what's going to happen,” Gandhi said pointing out the outcome of the Karnataka assembly elections where Congress ousted the BJP from power and secured a comfortable majority. 

Opposition unity is a complicated discussion: Rahul Gandhi

Speaking on opposition unity ahead of elections, he said that ‘lot of good work is happening’ but he pointed out that it is a ‘complicated discussion’

"I think it's getting more and more united. We're having conversations with all the Opposition (parties). I think quite a lot of good work is happening, " Gandhi said.

"It's a complicated discussion because there are spaces where we have competing also with (other) Opposition (parties). So, it's a little bit of give and take as required. But I'm confident that that will happen,” he said.

Thre's definite capture of the institutions: Rahul Gandhi on press freedom

During the interaction, Gandhi also touched upon issues such as press freedom, religious freedom, the rights of minorities, and the state of the Indian economy. He raised concerns about the capture of institutions and press in the country, emphasizing the importance of independent institutions and robust systems to protect minority rights.

"There is a definite capture of the institutions of the country. There's a definite capture of the press in the country. I'm not convinced that you know, I don't, I don't believe everything I hear," Gandhi said when questioned about the worldwide high levels of popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said, "India has a very robust system already in place, (but) that system has been weakened...You have to have an independent set of institutions that are not pressurized and controlled. And that's been the norm in India. This is an aberration that is taking place in India...If you say that if Congress came to power that they could quickly be restored, quickly," when asked what his party would do to implement to ensure the rights of minorities in India if it came to power.

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