As Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Odisha for his Samvidhan Bachao Yatra on July 11, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on the campaign, calling it a political ploy to revive the struggling Congress party rather than a genuine movement to protect the Constitution.
Speaking at a press conference, Odisha BJP vice-president Biranchi Narayan Tripathi said:
“Congress is in despair. This is not a ‘Save Constitution’ campaign—this is clearly a ‘Save Congress’ campaign.”
The BJP accused Congress of past constitutional manipulation for political gains and criticized its internal functioning, calling it a “family-run party” dominated by the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.
“If anyone has undermined democracy, it is the Congress. It lacks internal democracy and functions under dynastic control,” Tripathi added.
The party also demanded an apology from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing him of insulting the President of India.
While the Congress has yet to respond officially, the BJP’s sharp criticism adds political intensity to Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Bhubaneswar, part of his broader nationwide yatra. The visit comes at a time when the Congress is trying to re-establish its relevance in the state ahead of future elections.
