BJP slams Rahul Gandhi's absence from landslide-hit Wayanad amid rescue ops
Synopsis
With Wayanad buried under landslide debris and rescue teams working overtime, BJP's Sudhanshu Trivedi publicly demanded to know where Rahul Gandhi — the district's former MP — has been. The attack highlights a sharp political fault line: in India's disaster politics, absence from ground zero can carry as much consequence as policy failure.
Key Takeaways
BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi on Monday publicly questioned Rahul Gandhi's absence from Wayanad amid deadly landslides.
Trivedi alleged Gandhi was visible after past Wayanad disasters for media attention but has gone missing during the current crisis.
Wayanad has suffered significant loss of life, home destruction, and displacement due to severe monsoon rainfall and landslides.
Rescue and relief operations are ongoing, with the Kerala government and central agencies deployed round the clock.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also named by Trivedi as absent despite the Congress-supported government in the state.
The Indian National Congress (INC) had not issued a formal response to the allegations at the time of reporting.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP and senior spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi on Monday launched a sharp attack on Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, questioning his absence from Wayanad in Kerala — his former constituency — as the district reels from devastating monsoon landslides and heavy rainfall that have claimed lives and displaced thousands.
What Trivedi Said at the Press Conference
Addressing reporters, Trivedi demanded to know why Gandhi, who represented Wayanad in Parliament, had gone missing at a moment when the region is confronting one of its worst natural calamities in recent memory. He questioned where Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were when their own constituency needed them most, noting that Kerala is governed by a Congress-supported administration.
Trivedi alleged that Gandhi had been prompt to visit Wayanad after earlier disasters — ostensibly for media visibility — but had now, according to the BJP spokesperson, 'mysteriously disappeared from public view' at the hour of greatest suffering. He further questioned whether Gandhi was on a foreign trip or otherwise unavailable, asking where he was 'hibernating' during the ongoing crisis.
The Crisis on the Ground in Wayanad
Relentless monsoon rains have triggered massive landslides across Wayanad and adjoining areas, resulting in significant loss of life, widespread destruction of homes, and severe disruption to daily life. Rescue and relief operations are underway, with the Kerala state government and central agencies working round the clock to reach affected communities.
This comes amid a broader pattern of extreme weather events battering Kerala during the monsoon season, with Wayanad's hilly terrain making it particularly vulnerable to landslides. The scale of the current disaster has drawn national attention and calls for immediate political engagement from representatives at all levels.
BJP's Broader Attack on Congress Leadership
Trivedi broadened the critique beyond the immediate crisis, accusing the Gandhi siblings of prioritising political manoeuvring over the immediate needs of ordinary citizens in Kerala. He alleged that Rahul Gandhi surfaces in public discourse primarily when 'anti-national' statements emerge, rather than during humanitarian emergencies affecting his former constituents.
The BJP's attack underscores a recurring political dynamic in India where natural disasters become flashpoints for accountability debates — particularly when elected representatives or prominent political figures are perceived as slow to respond. Critics argue that visibility during crises carries both humanitarian and electoral weight, especially in constituencies with strong personal bonds between voters and leaders.
Congress Response and What Comes Next
As of the time of reporting, neither Rahul Gandhi nor the Indian National Congress (INC) had issued a formal response to Trivedi's allegations. Relief and rescue operations in Wayanad are expected to continue as the region braces for further rainfall. The political pressure on the Congress leadership to demonstrate on-ground engagement is likely to intensify as the humanitarian situation evolves.
Point of View
And the one his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra subsequently won. Absence during a mass-casualty disaster in that district is politically costly in a way that absence from, say, a policy debate is not. What the BJP's broadside does not address is the substance of relief: whether central funds have been released swiftly, whether NDRF deployment is adequate, and whether the Congress-supported Kerala government itself is performing. Disaster politics in India too often collapses into a visibility contest rather than an accountability audit of actual relief outcomes.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the BJP criticising Rahul Gandhi over the Wayanad landslides?
The BJP, through spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, has alleged that Rahul Gandhi — who represented Wayanad as a Lok Sabha MP — has been absent from the constituency despite it facing one of its worst natural disasters in recent years. Trivedi questioned why Gandhi was not present on the ground when rescue and relief operations are ongoing.
What is the current situation in Wayanad?
Heavy monsoon rains have triggered massive landslides across Wayanad and surrounding areas in Kerala, causing significant loss of life, destruction of homes, and disruption to daily life. Rescue and relief operations are underway with the Kerala government and central agencies working continuously.
What did Sudhanshu Trivedi specifically allege about Rahul Gandhi?
Trivedi alleged that Gandhi had visited Wayanad after previous disasters for media attention but has now 'mysteriously disappeared' during the current crisis. He also questioned whether Gandhi was on a foreign trip and accused him of prioritising political manoeuvring over humanitarian response.
Has Congress responded to the BJP's allegations?
As of the time of reporting, neither Rahul Gandhi nor the Indian National Congress had issued a formal public response to Trivedi's allegations at the press conference.
Who else did the BJP name in its criticism?
BJP spokesperson Trivedi also named Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul Gandhi's sister, questioning her absence from Wayanad despite the emotional connect both siblings have projected with the constituency and the fact that Kerala has a Congress-supported government.
