Despite thousands attending and senior opposition leaders present, Vote Adhikar Yatra , led by Rahul Gandhi, was reduced to a token clip on most channels.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, August 17 — The contrast in how mainstream television channels allocate airtime was on full display today, leaving many questioning the balance and integrity of political coverage. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow in Delhi and Election Commission of India (ECI) dominated news channels for over two hours with uninterrupted live telecasts, Rahul Gandhi’s massive rally and launch of his Vote Adhikar Yatra received barely a fleeting two-minute mention.
The day’s programming painted a striking picture. Beginning with Modi’s roadshow, cameras followed every detail — from the speeches of Delhi Chief minister Rekha Gupta to Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and finally, the Prime Minister himself. Channels carried the proceedings live and uninterrupted, offering extensive commentary and glowing visuals.
But when it came to Rahul Gandhi, who addressed thousands during the launch of his Vote Adhikar Yatra from Sasram in Bihar, most channels cut his presence down to a token two-minute clip — if at all. Senior opposition leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Tejashwi Yadav, who is accompanying Gandhi on the 16-day yatra, were also present. Yet, the event was treated by the media as little more than a footnote.
READ: ECI Press Meet Raises More Questions Than It Settles
Immediately following Modi’s roadshow, the Election Commission’s much-anticipated press conference was telecast live for nearly two hours. The timing — right after the Prime Minister’s event — did not go unnoticed, sparking questions about editorial priorities. Observers noted the pattern: “Two hours for Modi, two hours for EC, two minutes for Rahul,” one political analyst said.
Big boost to Delhi-NCR infrastructure. 🛣️
PM Modi inaugurated two National Highway projects worth Rs 11,000 crore in Delhi today. pic.twitter.com/ArPEFNkcOb
— BJP (@BJP4India) August 17, 2025
This imbalance has become a recurring issue. Since the launch of his campaign against alleged “vote theft,” Rahul Gandhi’s public addresses and press conferences have consistently received minimal coverage. His August 7 press conference and his Bengaluru rally on the following day raising concerns over disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of voters were largely ignored by leading channels. In contrast, BJP counter-attacks and allegations received saturation coverage.
Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly criticized mainstream television channels for this bias. “When I speak of the poor, of Dalits, of farmers, of the Constitution, the media looks away. But if a BJP leader hurls allegations or abuses me, every channel runs it nonstop,” he said during a recent public address. Opposition leaders have echoed this concern, describing it as “an orchestrated information imbalance” designed to marginalize dissenting voices.
The bias was evident in another case: when BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya alleged that Sonia Gandhi was enrolled as a voter before acquiring Indian citizenship, channels broadcasted the charge widely. Yet when Congress produced documents proving it false, the rebuttal received scant attention.
LIVE: LAUNCH of #VoterAdhikarYatra | Sasaram, Bihar https://t.co/4vsY7oPMCk
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 17, 2025
For the Congress and other opposition parties, this is about more than airtime — it is about democracy itself. By giving saturation coverage to ruling party events while reducing opposition campaigns to fleeting clips, critics argue, mainstream media risks shaping public perception unfairly. Independent analysts have warned that such selective coverage distorts political reality and erodes public trust in journalism.
READ: Rahul Kicks Off ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra’, Slams BJP & ECI
As the Vote Adhikar Yatra continues across Bihar and neighboring states, the discrepancy between ground mobilization and television visibility are bound to become stark. Despite drawing thousands and featuring senior leaders, the event is unlikely to find any airtime on TV channels.
Observers say the message is clear: while the ruling party commands hours of airtime, opposition leaders struggle to have even minutes of coverage — a disparity that, in today’s 24/7 news cycle, can significantly influence public perception.
