PV Narasimha Rao's grandson slams Rahul Gandhi over foreign visit remarks
Synopsis
N.V. Subhash — BJP spokesperson and grandson of former PM P.V. Narasimha Rao — has accused Rahul Gandhi of using foreign trips to attack India's constitutional institutions, judiciary, and EVMs, framing it as pre-election excuse-building. The unusual angle: a descendant of a Congress legend is now one of the BJP's loudest critics of Congress's current leader.
Key Takeaways
Subhash , BJP spokesperson and grandson of Late P.V.
Narasimha Rao , attacked Rahul Gandhi on 25 October 2026 in New Delhi .
Subhash alleged Gandhi uses overseas visits to undermine India's constitutional institutions , judiciary , and Election Commission .
Gandhi was accused of stirring communal sentiments — targeting Sikh and minority communities — for 'political survival'.
BJP claims Gandhi is pre-emptively blaming EVMs and electoral bodies to excuse anticipated losses in five state Assembly elections .
The INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan is scheduled for 1 November , amid escalating political tensions.
N.V. Subhash, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson and grandson of former Prime Minister Late P.V. Narasimha Rao, on Sunday, 25 October 2026, launched a sharp attack on Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of systematically attempting to 'undermine' India's constitutional institutions during his overseas visits. The remarks were made in New Delhi ahead of Assembly elections in five states.
Key Allegations Against Rahul Gandhi
Subhash alleged that Gandhi's foreign visits have coincided with public statements that target constitutional bodies, including the judiciary, the Election Commission of India (ECI), and electoral mechanisms such as Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). 'Whenever he visits foreign countries, something happens to his whole ecosystem. Being an opposition leader, he can criticise the Narendra Modi government in a systematic way, but instead, he targets the Constitution, the Election Commission, the system, including the judiciary,' Subhash said.
He added that Gandhi returns from abroad and 'talks about things that are not even connected, provoking certain sections of the people.' Subhash further alleged that Gandhi was laying the groundwork for excuses ahead of what the BJP anticipates will be a poor Congress performance in the upcoming state polls. 'He is laying a foundation stone for excuses — claiming because of SIR we have lost, because of EVM we have lost,' Subhash stated.
Communal Sentiments Row
Subhash also accused Gandhi of 'raking up' sensitive communal and social sentiments for what he described as 'political survival', calling the situation 'alarming'. 'One day, he rubs the wrong side of the shoulder, raking the sentiments of Sikhs. On another day, he rubs the other side, raking the sentiments of certain minority sections,' Subhash remarked, while referring to the INDIA bloc's scheduled rally at Ramlila Maidan on 1 November.
This comes amid a broader pattern of BJP criticism targeting Gandhi's overseas engagements, with the party repeatedly arguing that such visits undermine national institutions on international platforms.
What the BJP Demands
The BJP spokesperson called on Gandhi to uphold the conduct of past opposition leaders, citing the Congress party's own legacy. 'We, the Bharatiya Janata Party, demand that Rahul Gandhi behave like a responsible opposition leader. His forefathers ruled this country, and there have been so many top leaders in the Congress party who served as opposition leaders, but they never behaved like this,' Subhash stated.
Subhash underlined that a responsible opposition leader should remain grounded within the country and stay connected with party workers and the general public, rather than making statements abroad that, he alleged, cause domestic harm.
Political Context and What's Next
The BJP's criticism arrives as India prepares for Assembly elections in five states, with both sides ramping up political rhetoric. The INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan on 1 November is expected to be a major flashpoint. Notably, Subhash's identity as a descendant of the late P.V. Narasimha Rao — a stalwart of the Congress party himself — lends an unusual dimension to this BJP broadside against the Gandhi family's leadership of Congress. How Gandhi and the Congress party respond to these charges is likely to set the tone for campaign narratives in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Arguably the most consequential Congress Prime Minister after Nehru — is a carefully calibrated political signal, not just routine party-line criticism. The implicit message is that even the Congress's own institutional legacy repudiates Gandhi's leadership style. Yet the charges themselves — that an opposition leader criticises domestic institutions abroad — are part of a recurring BJP playbook that critics argue conflates legitimate dissent with anti-nationalism. What is underreported is the specific trigger: whether any recent overseas statement by Gandhi crossed a verifiable factual or legal line, or whether this is pre-election noise aimed at suppressing the opposition's international outreach. The EVM debate, in particular, is not Gandhi's invention — it has been raised by multiple parties and acknowledged in courts. Framing it as 'excuse-laying' papers over a substantive electoral integrity conversation India needs to have.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is N.V. Subhash and why is his criticism of Rahul Gandhi significant?
N.V. Subhash is a BJP spokesperson and the grandson of former Prime Minister Late P.V. Narasimha Rao, a foundational figure in the Congress party. His criticism of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi carries symbolic weight because it comes from within the legacy of the very party Gandhi now leads.
What exactly has N.V. Subhash accused Rahul Gandhi of?
Subhash has accused Gandhi of using foreign visits to make statements that undermine India's constitutional institutions, including the judiciary, the Election Commission of India, and EVM-based electoral processes. He also alleged that Gandhi provokes communal sentiments for political survival.
Why is this criticism timed to the upcoming Assembly elections?
Subhash alleged that Gandhi is pre-emptively blaming electoral institutions — particularly EVMs — to create excuses for an anticipated Congress defeat in five upcoming state Assembly elections. The BJP frames this as political opportunism rather than genuine institutional concern.
What is the INDIA bloc's Ramlila Maidan rally about?
The INDIA bloc has scheduled a rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on 1 November. Subhash's remarks were partly made in reference to this event, suggesting the BJP is seeking to frame the opposition's mobilisation narrative before the rally takes place.
Has Congress responded to Subhash's allegations?
No formal response from the Congress party or Rahul Gandhi to Subhash's specific allegations was available at the time of this report. The Congress's position on EVMs and institutional criticism has previously been articulated through official party statements and in Parliament.
