NDA targets Congress over Ashok Gehlot's 'conspiracy' remark
Synopsis
Ashok Gehlot's claim that a 'big conspiracy' derailed his 2022 Congress presidency bid has handed the NDA a ready-made attack line. BJP's Poonawalla framed it as 'Gehlot vs Kharge', while JD(U) directly asked whether the Gandhi family was responsible — a rare escalation that puts Congress's internal democracy under the national spotlight.
Key Takeaways
Ashok Gehlot stated he was ready to become Congress President in 2022 but was blocked by a 'big conspiracy' that also damaged his image.
BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla called it a Gehlot vs Kharge conflict, framing it as a direct attack on the Congress president.
JD(U) Chief Spokesperson Neeraj Kumar questioned whether the Gandhi family was behind the alleged conspiracy.
JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad cited the episode as evidence of Congress drifting from its objectives due to internal factionalism.
The Congress party had not issued an official response as of reporting on 8 June .
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's admission that a 'big conspiracy' derailed his bid for the Congress presidency in 2022 has triggered a coordinated political offensive from NDA allies, with BJP and Janata Dal (United) leaders using the remarks to question the Indian National Congress's internal democracy and organisational health. The statement, made by one of the party's most senior regional figures, has reignited debate over factionalism within the Congress at a time when the opposition is attempting to project unity.
What Gehlot Said
Gehlot stated that he was willing and ready to take over as Congress President in 2022, but that a 'big conspiracy' was orchestrated against him — one that not only blocked his candidacy but also damaged his public image. The remarks have not been officially addressed by the Congress leadership.
BJP's Sharp Response
BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla was among the first to react, drawing a direct line between Gehlot's comments and the party's top brass. 'Rajasthan's magician has once again shown his magic. And this time it seems that what we earlier saw as Congress vs Congress, the Gehlot vs Pilot chapter, has now become Gehlot vs Kharge. Because this is seen as a direct attack on Kharge,' Poonawalla said. The reference to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge sharpened the political edge of the attack, framing Gehlot's remarks as an internal indictment of the party's current leadership.
JD(U) Piles On
JD(U) Chief Spokesperson Neeraj Kumar went further, questioning whether the Gandhi family was behind the alleged conspiracy. 'Across the country, the Congress party is emerging as a politically weakening force and is heading towards decline. In this situation, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's statement about a conspiracy raises questions. Who is behind this conspiracy? Who did the conspiracy?.. Does the Congress Party not have internal democracy? Was this conspiracy orchestrated by the Gandhi family? Who exactly is responsible?' Kumar said.
JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad echoed the criticism, arguing that senior leaders like Gehlot owed the public clarity on accountability. 'Ashok Gehlot is a senior leader from Rajasthan. If he genuinely feels that he was treated unfairly within the Congress, then he should also clarify who was responsible for that situation. Due to various internal conflicts, conspiracies, and factionalism, the Congress party has gradually drifted away from its original objectives in several states…' Prasad said.
The Deeper Fault Lines
Gehlot's remarks are not the first instance of public discord within the Congress. The Gehlot-Sachin Pilot rivalry in Rajasthan had previously played out in the open, culminating in a near-collapse of the state government in 2020. The latest episode suggests those fault lines have not fully healed — and may now extend upward to the national leadership. Notably, this comes at a sensitive moment for the Congress as it attempts to consolidate the INDIA bloc ahead of future electoral contests.
Congress Yet to Respond
As of the time of reporting, the Congress party had not issued an official response to the NDA's criticism or to Gehlot's original remarks. The silence has itself become a talking point for opposition leaders, who argue it reflects a reluctance to confront internal contradictions. Whether Gehlot follows up with further clarifications — or names those he holds responsible — will determine how long this episode remains politically live.
Point of View
But because a senior Congressman is now on record using the word 'conspiracy' about his own party. The Gehlot-Pilot rivalry was damaging enough; a Gehlot-Kharge framing is structurally worse, because it implicates the national leadership rather than a state-level rival. Congress's silence is tactically understandable but strategically costly: every hour without a response allows the NDA's narrative to set. The deeper issue is that the party has not developed a credible internal grievance mechanism — and until it does, these episodes will recur, each time offering opponents a fresh line of attack ahead of elections.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Ashok Gehlot say about the 'conspiracy' against him?
Gehlot stated that he was ready to become Congress President in 2022, but that a 'big conspiracy' was carried out against him that blocked his candidacy and damaged his image. He did not publicly name those he held responsible.
How did the BJP respond to Gehlot's remarks?
BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the episode showed that the earlier Gehlot vs Pilot conflict had now escalated to a Gehlot vs Kharge conflict, calling it a direct attack on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
What did JD(U) leaders say about the Gehlot controversy?
JD(U) Chief Spokesperson Neeraj Kumar questioned whether the Gandhi family was behind the alleged conspiracy and asked if the Congress had any internal democracy. JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said factionalism had caused the Congress to drift from its original objectives in several states.
Has the Congress party responded to the criticism?
As of 8 June, the Congress party had not issued an official response to either Gehlot's original remarks or the NDA's subsequent attacks.
What is the background to the Gehlot-Pilot rivalry?
The rivalry between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan became public in 2020, when Pilot led a rebellion that nearly brought down the state government. The latest controversy suggests those internal divisions have persisted and may now involve the national leadership.
