Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, 2 November 2026, launched a sharp political offensive against the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that they are orchestrating an international conspiracy to engineer a 'regime change' in India and undermine the Indian Constitution. The remarks came at a Save Democracy and Constitution rally held in Mumbai.

What Fadnavis Said at the Rally

Addressing the gathering, CM Fadnavis framed the political contest not as a fight against any party, but as a battle for constitutional preservation. 'This fight is not against Modi, the BJP, or the NDA; it is a hidden war. As long as the sun and the moon exist, the Constitution must remain, regardless of differences in ideology. Join us in this battle,' he urged.

He directly targeted Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of seeking to build an 'ultra-leftist setup' at odds with constitutional values. 'Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar has taught us how to protect democracy, but Rahul Gandhi wants to build an ultra-leftist setup,' Fadnavis said, invoking the legacy of the Constitution's principal architect.

Invocation of Indira Gandhi and Emergency

In a pointed historical comparison, CM Fadnavis drew parallels between Rahul Gandhi's politics and the legacy of his grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. 'This is India, and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution is here. Your grandmother tried; she was strong and a leader, but she couldn't destroy it. Who are you, Rahul Gandhi?' he said.

Fadnavis recalled the Emergency era, alleging that Congress had frozen fundamental rights in 1976 and prevented citizens from approaching the Supreme Court. He credited Morarji Desai and Atal Bihari Vajpayee with restoring those rights through constitutional amendments in 1977. 'Their intentions are not new; they have meddled with the Constitution multiple times. Now, Indira Gandhi's grandson has resumed that very work. It is old wine in a new bottle,' he alleged.

Regime Change Allegations and Regional Comparisons

The Chief Minister cited what he described as political upheavals in neighbouring countries to sharpen his charge. 'Regime changes and constitutional alterations took place in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. When asked four times, they openly admitted they want a regime change,' he claimed. He also alleged that Uddhav Thackeray had spoken of regime change, adding, 'As long as there is a drop of blood in our veins, we will not let regime change happen.'

On the red-coloured booklets displayed by the opposition, Fadnavis was unsparing. 'That red book is the same one used to trigger regime changes in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, and to create anarchy in France and Denmark. They show a book of the Constitution, but there is nothing inside it,' he alleged. These are his claims and have not been independently verified.

Attacks on Institutions and Intellectuals

Fadnavis also alleged that the opposition had been systematically targeting constitutional institutions — naming the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), election commissions, and the Supreme Court. He argued that staging street marches against these bodies instead of seeking legal recourse was unprecedented. 'It is surprising that intellectuals have nothing to say. What kind of intellectuals are these? They are commercial, constantly crying that democracy is in danger and chattering against PM Modi,' he remarked.

He concluded by alleging that the opposition's 'ultimate attempt' is to dismantle the Constitution if institutions do not rule in their favour. The Congress party had not issued an official response to these remarks at the time of publication.