Just last year, Rahul Gandhi and the once-powerful party he led, the Indian National Congress, seemed to be on the ropes and little threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s consolidation of political power.
Congress had not been a competitive factor in national elections in years, winning fewer and fewer votes each time Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party was elected.
And Mr. Gandhi himself had been convicted on a slander charge and barred from holding a seat in Parliament.
But on Tuesday, Mr. Gandhi and a broad opposition coalition led by his Congress party registered a far stronger showing than expected in India’s elections, setting the stage for an unlikely comeback.
“This time he has improved his vote share by at least 17 million votes, which is very substantial.”
Persons:
Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi’s, Modi’s, Gandhi, ”, Rasheed Kidwai
Organizations:
Indian National Congress, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, Observer Research Foundation
Locations:
New Delhi, “