BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari mocked Rahul Gandhi reported overseas trip, questioning his absence amid the political battle over electoral rolls and allegations of “vote chori”.
BY PC Bureau
October 19: Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi travelled abroad after addressing a rally in Goa, even as Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-conveners Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das remain in judicial custody at Tihar jail.
The BJP has portrayed Gandhi’s reported foreign trip to Hanoi as a sign of misplaced priorities, accusing him of taking a holiday while political tensions continue over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, opposition allegations of “vote chori” and the police crackdown on protests targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari took to X to criticise Rahul Gandhi reported departure from India.
“RAHUL GANDHI IS BACK TO DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST: TAKING A BREAK AND ENJOYING A HOLIDAY!” Bhandari wrote, claiming that the Congress leader was travelling abroad for a vacation.
He also questioned Rahul Gandhi absence during Navratri and the continuing political confrontation over electoral rolls and protests.
“During Navratri, what is Rahul Gandhi doing abroad? Enjoying a break? Meeting his ‘chaos collaborators’?” Bhandari asked, accusing Gandhi of spending more time relaxing than working before raising allegations of electoral malpractice.
The BJP spokesperson also shared a caricature depicting Gandhi in holiday attire, accompanied by a Hindi caption suggesting that he had left the country as political tensions mounted at home.
RAHUL GANDHI IS BACK TO DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST: TAKING A BREAK AND ENJOYING A HOLIDAY!
Rahul Gandhi is reportedly travelling abroad for a vacation.
Rahul Gandhi is not in India!
During Navratri, what is Rahul Gandhi doing abroad?
– Enjoying a break
– Meeting his “chaos collaborators”?A man who spends more time chilling than working—and then shouts, “Vote Chori!”
— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) October 19, 2026
Rahul Gandhi Vietnam trip follows Goa rally
Gandhi reportedly addressed a rally in Margao on October 18 as part of the Congress’s Goy Rakhonn Yatra before travelling to Hanoi, Vietnam. The details and purpose of the reported trip have not been independently established.
His reported departure comes amid a politically charged debate over the SIR exercise, with opposition parties alleging irregularities in electoral rolls and accusing the Election Commission of undermining democratic rights.
The controversy has also spilled onto the streets, with protests, police detentions and legal proceedings adding to tensions between the opposition and the authorities.
The INDIA bloc has paused some demonstrations during the festive period, with a larger rally scheduled for November 1 at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. The Supreme Court has also issued notice to Gandhi in connection with the October 12 march, according to reports.
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CJP leaders remain behind bars
The reported trip has drawn additional political attention because Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das continue to be detained in Tihar Jail.
The two CJP co-conveners were remanded to judicial custody following their alleged entry into the denotified Jantar Mantar protest site and the raising of slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Authorities have also cited alleged violations of earlier peace-bond conditions.
Their five-day judicial custody ended on October 18, but they were not immediately released. The police have filed a petition seeking to extend their custody. Incidentally, Rahul Gandhi has kept mum over their arrest,
The continuing detention has become a flashpoint in the broader confrontation over the right to protest and the handling of demonstrations against the Election Commission.
The BJP has repeatedly accused Gandhi of travelling abroad during periods of political tension. The party has sought to portray such trips as evidence that the Congress leader is detached from domestic struggles.
Opposition supporters, meanwhile, argue that the central questions concern the integrity of electoral rolls, the Election Commission’s conduct and the treatment of protesters—not a politician’s travel schedule.
For the CJP, the immediate concern remains the continued detention of Ranka and Das and the legal process governing their release.
The political contrast is nevertheless striking: the BJP is using Gandhi’s reported overseas travel to question his priorities, while the opposition continues to challenge the handling of electoral-roll protests and the detention of activists. Whether the reported trip will affect the Congress’s political campaign remains to be seen.
