Rajeev Chandrasekhar calls Rahul Gandhi 'inauthentic politician' at BJP press meet
Synopsis
Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar used a New Delhi press conference to brand Rahul Gandhi an 'inauthentic politician' and reiterate his 'pre-eminent fraudster' label — citing a 12-year record from EVM allegations to Pulwama remarks. The broadside also targeted what he called a secret Congress-CPI(M) understanding in Kerala, raising the political temperature ahead of future state contests.
Key Takeaways
Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar called Rahul Gandhi an 'inauthentic politician' at a press conference in New Delhi on 1 October 2026 .
Chandrasekhar reiterated his earlier description of Gandhi as a 'pre-eminent fraudster' in Indian politics and cited Gandhi's remarks on EVMs , the Pulwama attack , and the Balakot air strike .
He alleged a tacit understanding between Congress and CPI(M) in Kerala , claiming the Congress government was reluctant to pursue corruption charges against former CM Pinarayi Vijayan .
Chandrasekhar questioned Gandhi's credibility on patriarchy given Congress's alliance with the IUML in Kerala.
The press conference opened with a tribute to injured flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar , whose aircraft carrying 174 passengers was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an alleged co-pilot attack.
Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday, 1 October 2026, launched a pointed attack on Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi at a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, alleging that Gandhi had built his political career on 'lies and misinformation' while lacking any positive agenda.
Key Allegations
Chandrasekhar, standing by remarks he had made 'a few days ago', reiterated his characterisation of Gandhi as a 'pre-eminent fraudster' in Indian politics. He said he was presenting 'the last 12 years of Rahul Gandhi's politics' and inviting the public to arrive at conclusions that, he claimed, Indian voters had already reached in 2014, 2019, and 2024 general elections.
Specifically, Chandrasekhar cited Gandhi's past remarks on electronic voting machines (EVMs) and allegations of democracy being undermined. He also pointed to Gandhi's 2019 comments on the Pulwama attack and the Balakot air strike — alleging that Gandhi had questioned whether the Pulwama incident was stage-managed for electoral advantage and had denied the Balakot operation took place.
The Kerala Angle
Turning his focus to Kerala, Chandrasekhar alleged a tacit understanding between the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] despite their ostensible political rivalry. 'The Congress and CPI-M pretend to be two but are one,' he alleged.
He further claimed the Congress-led government had been reluctant to pursue corruption charges against former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, pointing to what he described as existing evidence and a case registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Chandrasekhar also revisited the Sabarimala controversy, recalling Gandhi's earlier pledge to stand with temple devotees and expose alleged gold irregularities at the shrine. He alleged that despite the political campaign around the issue, no arrests had followed and the case had stalled.
Patriarchy Remarks Under Scrutiny
The BJP leader also took aim at Gandhi's recent remarks on patriarchy, questioning their credibility in light of the Congress's alliance in Kerala with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) — an argument suggesting an internal contradiction in the Congress's stated social positions.
Tribute to Injured Pilot
Chandrasekhar opened his press conference by paying tribute to Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot employed by flydubai who was seriously injured in an alleged attack by his co-pilot during a flight to Tel Aviv carrying 174 passengers. The aircraft was subsequently diverted safely to Saudi Arabia. 'Every Indian today is praying for his safe recovery,' Chandrasekhar said, describing the captain's courage as a matter of national pride.
Broader Political Context
Chandrasekhar's salvo arrives amid an escalating three-way confrontation between the Congress, CPI(M), and BJP in Kerala, with the parties trading allegations over electoral conduct, corruption, and political violence. Notably, this is not the first time a senior BJP figure has framed Gandhi's political record as a liability heading into the next electoral cycle — such attacks have intensified since the 2024 Lok Sabha results left the Congress as the principal opposition force.
How Gandhi and the Congress respond to Chandrasekhar's renewed offensive — particularly on the Kerala-specific charges — will be closely watched as both parties gear up for future state and national contests.
Point of View
Not just a national one. The patriarchy-IUML juxtaposition is the most pointed of the allegations, aiming to expose what the BJP sees as ideological inconsistency. Whether these attacks shift opinion in Kerala — where the BJP has historically struggled — or merely animate an already-converted base is the real question worth watching.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rajeev Chandrasekhar say about Rahul Gandhi?
Chandrasekhar called Rahul Gandhi an 'inauthentic politician' and reiterated his earlier description of Gandhi as a 'pre-eminent fraudster' in Indian politics at a press conference in New Delhi on 1 October 2026. He cited Gandhi's remarks on EVMs, the 2019 Pulwama attack, and the Balakot air strike as evidence of what he called a pattern of misinformation.
What Kerala-specific allegations did Chandrasekhar make?
Chandrasekhar alleged that Congress and CPI(M) share a tacit understanding despite publicly opposing each other, and that the Congress-led government was reluctant to pursue a corruption case against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He also alleged that Gandhi's campaign over irregularities at the Sabarimala temple had yielded no arrests.
Why did Chandrasekhar question Gandhi's remarks on patriarchy?
Chandrasekhar argued that Gandhi's stated position on patriarchy was undermined by the Congress's alliance in Kerala with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), suggesting a contradiction between the Congress's public social stance and its political partnerships.
Who is Captain Smit Machchhar and why was he mentioned?
Captain Smit Machchhar is an Indian pilot employed by flydubai who was seriously injured in an alleged attack by his co-pilot during a flight carrying 174 passengers to Tel Aviv. The aircraft was safely diverted to Saudi Arabia. Chandrasekhar opened his press conference by paying tribute to the captain and expressed that every Indian was praying for his recovery.
What is the broader political context of Chandrasekhar's remarks?
The remarks come amid an escalating three-way political confrontation between the BJP, Congress, and CPI(M) in Kerala over electoral conduct, corruption, and political violence. The BJP has intensified its attacks on Gandhi since the 2024 Lok Sabha results established him as the principal Leader of the Opposition.
