In a blistering critique that has sent shockwaves through political circles, former Union minister Shakeel Ahmad launched a scathing attack on senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, labeling him as "darpok" (coward) and "insecure." Ahmad, who resigned from the Congress party in November 2025, made these remarks during an interview with PTI on Saturday, escalating tensions within the opposition ranks.
Shakeel Ahmad's Harsh Accusations Against Rahul Gandhi
The ex-Congress general secretary did not mince words as he described Gandhi, the former party president and current Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, as "dictatorial" and "non-democratic." Ahmad elaborated that Gandhi's leadership style reflects deep-seated insecurities when dealing with senior colleagues or those with substantial public support.
"Rahul Gandhi is a coward and an insecure person," Ahmad stated bluntly. "He does not get that 'boss feeling' before anyone who is senior to him or has a big public support. He is uncomfortable with any such person and is thus dictatorial and not democratic."
Historical Context and Electoral Performance
Ahmad further highlighted Gandhi's electoral setbacks, particularly noting his defeat from the Amethi constituency during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Amethi has long been considered a traditional bastion of the Gandhi family, making this loss particularly significant. The former minister attributed this defeat directly to Gandhi's "attitude" and leadership approach.
The veteran politician, who served as a three-time MLA and two-time MP from Bihar, also addressed recent electoral controversies. He claimed that during his observations of the Special Intensive Revision exercise conducted in Bihar last year, he did not encounter any individuals alleging that their names had been removed from voter lists.
Political Timing and Bihar Context
Ahmad's resignation from the Congress party came just days before the results of the Bihar assembly elections were announced. In those elections, the Congress managed to secure only six out of the 61 seats it contested as part of the RJD-led opposition alliance. Meanwhile, the ruling NDA coalition swept the state, marking a significant political setback for the opposition forces.
BJP Seizes Opportunity to Attack Gandhi
The Bharatiya Janata Party wasted no time in capitalizing on Ahmad's explosive remarks. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to social media platform X to declare that Ahmad had "exposed" Rahul Gandhi's true character.
"Shakeel Ahmad has exposed Rahul Gandhi," Poonawalla posted. "Rahul Gandhi keeps showing that he is the most tolerant and democratic person, but the reality is something else. He is the most dictatorial person and has the same Emergency-mindset that Indira Gandhi had."
Countering Allegations of Electoral Malpractice
Responding specifically to Ahmad's claims about the voter list revision in Bihar, Poonawalla criticized Gandhi for what he called "baseless" allegations of 'vote chori' (vote theft). The BJP spokesperson suggested that such accusations were merely attempts to shift blame for the Congress party's electoral defeats onto external factors rather than acknowledging internal leadership failures.
This public airing of grievances by a former senior Congress leader has opened fresh wounds within the party and provided ammunition to political opponents. The timing of these remarks, coming amid ongoing political realignments and preparations for future electoral battles, adds significant weight to their impact on the national political discourse.
