Patna, Dec 24 (NationPress) As businessman Robert Vadra voiced his support for his wife, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, suggesting that many envision her as a future Prime Minister, the Janata Dal (United) raised concerns regarding the leadership capabilities of Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

In an interview with IANS, JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad stated, “In this country, anyone can aspire to high office, but the real concern lies in the ongoing internal strife within the Congress party. It's becoming increasingly evident that Rahul Gandhi is not acknowledging certain truths, which is why Robert Vadra has brought up Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. These unfolding events significantly challenge Rahul Gandhi’s leadership.”

He further noted that Rahul Gandhi has frequently been cited as a reason for the current state of the Congress party.

“There’s a widespread belief that Rahul Gandhi is accountable for the Congress's decline. Realistically, in the next 10 to 20 years, the party may struggle to make a meaningful comeback. While the decision of who will become Prime Minister lies with the electorate, the current outlook is grim for the Congress party,” Prasad told IANS.

The JD(U) spokesperson also commented on remarks made by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who indicated that the nation continues to grapple with “Hindu-Muslim issues” due to the Congress party’s secularism and vote bank politics.

Prasad remarked, “The Congress played a vital role in India's independence. However, over the years, their focus on vote bank politics has led to decisions fostering social unrest. Under Congress's governance, some of the most severe communal riots occurred, from Meerut and Malihabad to Bhiwandi, which exacerbated the divide between Hindus and Muslims. Even if the party claims to champion secularism today, the political landscape presents a starkly different narrative. Congress persists in engaging in politics steeped in communal polarization.”

He also weighed in on the results of the Maharashtra local body elections, asserting that the outcome illustrates public support for the ruling alliance.

In his comments regarding the election results, Prasad stated, “In Maharashtra, the alliance previously achieved a remarkable victory in the state Assembly, and once again, voters in rural and semi-urban regions have reaffirmed their support for the Mahayuti. The Mahayuti is poised to maintain its success in the future.”

The BJP-led Mahayuti, which includes the BJP, the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and the Nationalist Congress Party, dominated the elections for municipal councils and nagar panchayats, securing 207 of the 288 municipal president positions. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was limited to just 44 posts, underscoring the ruling alliance’s robust grassroots presence.

Within the Mahayuti, the BJP emerged as the standout performer, claiming 117 municipal president positions and over 3,300 councillor seats, which represents nearly 48% of the total councillors elected. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis characterized the performance as “record-breaking,” highlighting that the party had more than doubled its councillor tally compared to the 2017 local body elections.