Rahul Gandhi Takes on BJP & Gyanesh Kumar: But Can He Defeat Modi in 2029? | The Quint

Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders marched towards the Election Commission in Delhi on 6 October, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The INDIA bloc protest came amid its campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and allegations over the functioning of the Election Commission. But today's protest also raises a much bigger political question: Can Rahul Gandhi actually defeat Narendra Modi and the BJP in 2029? In the second episode of Baaghi Reporter, we examine three things Rahul Gandhi and the Congress are getting right, and three weaknesses that could stand in their way. Rahul Gandhi has helped keep the Congress largely united through one of the most difficult periods in its history. He has remained consistent on questions of secularism, gender equality and cronyism, and has increasingly positioned himself at the centre of the Opposition's challenge to the BJP. But there is a major electoral problem. While Narendra Modi's popularity has shown signs of declining in recent surveys, Rahul Gandhi has so far struggled to convert that decline into equivalent gains for himself. Then there are questions around Congress' political tactics: its messaging, handling of state elections, factional battles and Rahul Gandhi's own involvement in crucial state-level contests. So what would it actually take for Rahul Gandhi and the Opposition to challenge the BJP in 2029? Does Congress need to return to an economic campaign focused on unemployment, inflation and agrarian distress? Can Rahul persuade voters who have previously backed Modi? And can Opposition mobilisation around issues such as the Election Commission, SIR and Gyanesh Kumar translate into wider electoral support? We break down Rahul Gandhi's strengths, weaknesses and the political road to 2029. This is Episode 2 of Baaghi Reporter, The Quint's series of political deep dives. Become a member of The Quint and support independent journalism. Tags: Rahul Gandhi protest, Rahul Gandhi protest today, Rahul Gandhi today, Rahul Gandhi latest news, INDIA bloc protest, INDIA bloc protest today, Rahul Gandhi detained, Rahul Gandhi barricade, Rahul Gandhi Election Commission protest, Election Commission protest, Gyanesh Kumar protest, Rahul Gandhi Gyanesh Kumar, Rahul Gandhi vs Modi, Rahul Gandhi 2029, Narendra Modi, Modi vs Rahul Gandhi, can Rahul Gandhi defeat Modi, can Congress defeat BJP, Lok Sabha 2029, 2029 elections, BJP vs Congress, Congress vs BJP, INDIA alliance, Opposition protest Delhi, Indian politics, Congress 2029 strategy, Rahul Gandhi Congress, Baaghi Reporter, The Quint From exposing misinformation to delivering impactful human rights reporting, our newsroom has relentlessly pursued stories that drive change. We remain committed to asking the tough questions — and we'd love for you to be a part of our journey. Become The Quint’s member and make your support count: https://bit.ly/4j8x6uy For more videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/4gIyCln --------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website for more stories: https://www.thequint.com Check out our Special Projects: https://www.thequint.com/special-projects Subscribe to The Quint’s exclusive newsletters: https://thequint.substack.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------- Follow elsewhere: » Join us on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va5ysvjAe5VqBKRhgv2G » Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequint/ » LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/thequint » Twitter: https://x.com/TheQuint » Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quintillion/ --------------------------------------------------------------- Video: The Quint