Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, 22 October 2026, launched a sharp attack on Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, declaring that the Indian National Congress would not get a chance to return to power at the Centre for the next 30 years. Shah made the remarks at the inauguration and foundation-laying of the Yamuna revival projects in New Delhi, in what quickly became one of the most combative political speeches of the week.

Shah's 30-Year Warning to Congress

Addressing a public gathering, Shah directly targeted Gandhi, taking a pointed jibe at the Congress leader's reported foreign travels. 'Amit Shah was born here, lives here, and will die here. I do not have to travel abroad every six months; I remain among the people of this country. Given the kind of negative politics you are pursuing, your government will never be formed. Remember my words for the next 30 years,' Shah said.

Reiterating a remark he has made previously, Shah noted that the Congress was already losing ground in states well before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came to power at the Centre. He told the gathering that Gandhi could not 'gather party cadres from neighbouring states, stage protests in Delhi, and reject the people's mandate.'

Attack on 'Double Standards' Over Elections

Shah took direct aim at the Congress-led INDIA bloc's ongoing protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He argued that the opposition selectively accepts or rejects electoral institutions depending on whether they win or lose.

'You won in Telangana, so the Election Commission of India and voter list were good. You won in Himachal Pradesh, so the ECI and voter list were good there too. In Tamil Nadu, the people you supported won, so the ECI and voter list were good. But wherever you lose, the ECI is not acceptable,' Shah said. He added, 'If courts deliver verdicts in your favour, they are good. If they rule against you, they are not acceptable. These double standards will not work, Rahul ji.'

He also addressed Gandhi directly, noting that the Congress leader appeared to be abroad at the time. 'I know you cannot hear my voice because you are sitting somewhere abroad. You do not even explain why you are there. But that is fine; it is your personal life. However, once you land in Delhi, remember my words: you will not get another chance to come to power for the next 30 years,' Shah said.

Allegation on Infiltrators and 'Vote Chori' Claims

Shah alleged that Gandhi and his associates were seeking to protect votes of 'illegal infiltrators' behind the cover of 'vote chori' (vote theft) allegations — a reference to the INDIA bloc's claims of electoral irregularities. 'The country has realised, Rahul ji, that you and your associates want to protect the votes of the illegal infiltrators under the garb of "vote chori" allegations,' he told the gathering.

When asked about his earlier statements predicting BJP's continued dominance, Shah said the opposition had twisted his confidence into an admission of electoral wrongdoing. 'When I say that the BJP will remain in power for the next 30 years... they tell the public, "Look, this is vote theft; otherwise, how would Amit Shah know?"' he remarked.

AAP and the Yamuna: BJP's Counterattack

Shah also turned his fire on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), using the Yamuna revival event's backdrop to attack the party's record on the river. 'The Congress and AAP, despite remaining in power for 30 years, didn't do anything for the Yamuna River. The BJP, under the leadership of PM Modi, will get the opportunity to clean the Yamuna River right up to the Sangam,' he said.

Targeting AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, Shah alleged that after losing Delhi, Kejriwal had moved to Punjab but had not allowed Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to function independently. 'Politics of excuse doesn't work for long; results need to reflect,' Shah said, adding that the NDA would 'eradicate the drug menace from Punjab by 2029.'

What's Next

Shah's remarks come ahead of a politically charged period, with the INDIA bloc's protests against the Election Commission intensifying and multiple state elections on the horizon. His speech signals that the BJP intends to keep the Congress on the defensive over both its electoral credibility and its organisational footprint — setting the tone for a prolonged political battle well into the next electoral cycle.