A fresh political slugfest has erupted between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress after the BJP launched a poster campaign targeting Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his recent absence from the public eye. The campaign, featuring a “Laapata Rahul” (Missing Rahul) poster, has triggered a sharp response from the Congress, which insists that the senior leader is travelling abroad on official invitations from prestigious international institutions.
The controversy began when the BJP shared a poster questioning Rahul Gandhi’s whereabouts, asking why the Congress leader frequently disappears from the country’s political scene. The poster also raised questions about the funding of his repeated overseas trips, suggesting that the public deserves greater transparency regarding his international engagements.
The campaign quickly gained traction on social media, with BJP leaders accusing Gandhi of remaining absent during politically significant moments while frequently travelling abroad. The ruling party has often criticised Rahul Gandhi’s foreign visits, arguing that they coincide with important domestic political developments.
Congress, however, wasted little time in hitting back. Party spokespersons defended Gandhi, stating that his international visits are neither secretive nor personal vacations. According to the Congress, Rahul Gandhi is regularly invited by leading universities, think tanks and global institutions because he is recognised internationally as a prominent democratic leader. The party argued that there is nothing unusual about accepting invitations to deliver lectures, participate in policy discussions or engage with academic communities overseas.
Congress leaders also accused the BJP of attempting to divert public attention from pressing national issues by focusing on Gandhi’s travel schedule. They maintained that instead of debating governance, inflation and unemployment, the BJP was choosing to create political spectacles through social media campaigns and posters.
The latest exchange is part of a broader pattern of escalating rhetoric between India’s two largest political rivals. Over the past several months, Rahul Gandhi has remained one of the BJP’s primary political targets, with both sides engaging in frequent verbal battles over parliamentary speeches, election campaigns and public statements. Whether it is his criticism of the central government or the BJP’s attacks on his political style, Gandhi continues to occupy the centre of India’s political discourse.
Political observers believe such campaigns are aimed as much at shaping public perception as they are at mobilising party workers. In the age of digital politics, posters, hashtags and viral social media content have become powerful tools for influencing narratives beyond traditional rallies and press conferences.
For now, the “Laapata Rahul” campaign has added yet another chapter to the ongoing BJP-Congress feud. While the BJP continues to question Rahul Gandhi’s overseas engagements, the Congress insists that his global appearances reflect his international stature rather than political absence. With major political battles on the horizon, such confrontations are expected to remain a regular feature of India’s increasingly combative political landscape.
