Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, addressing party workers in Ahmedabad on the second day of his two-day Gujarat visit, called for a purge of leaders and workers within the Gujarat Congress who covertly align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Speaking on Saturday, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha emphasized that the party must filter out such elements to regain the trust of Gujarat’s electorate and present a compelling alternative vision to the state.

Gandhi argued that Gujarat’s people are disillusioned after over three decades of BJP governance, which he claimed has failed to deliver. “The people of Gujarat are screaming for a new vision because the one they’ve been shown for more than 30 years has collapsed,” he said. However, he admitted the Congress has struggled to capitalize on this discontent, asserting that voters won’t support the party until it fulfills its responsibilities and reconnects with them.

He painted a stark picture of the Gujarat Congress, dividing its leadership and workers into two camps. “There are those who are honest, fight for the people, respect them, and carry the Congress ideology in their hearts,” Gandhi said. “Then there are others—disconnected, distant, disrespectful to the people, and half of whom are with the BJP.” This internal division, he suggested, hampers the party’s ability to offer Gujarat a clear path forward.

Gandhi’s remarks signal a push for introspection and reform within the Gujarat Congress as it seeks to challenge the BJP’s long-standing dominance. With the state at a crossroads, he stressed that only a united, authentic Congress can seize the moment and address the people’s yearning for change.