The BJP hit back fiercely, accusing Gandhi of mocking Bihar’s cultural traditions and Hindu faith, escalating tensions ahead of the November polls.
BY PC Bureau
October 30, 2025: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi reignited his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a election rally in Nalanda district, invoking the imagery of two Indias — one of elite privilege and another of ordinary citizens enduring pollution and inequality.
His remarks, referencing the recently concluded Chhath Puja festivities, accused the Prime Minister of “performative politics,” contrasting Modi’s sanitized ritual setting in Delhi with the polluted waters that devotees in Bihar face. The BJP swiftly countered, accusing Gandhi of insulting Bihar’s culture and faith. This episode has deepened the ideological divide between the NDA and the INDIA bloc, highlighting the emotional stakes in Bihar’s 243-seat battle.
Background: The Chhath Puja Controversy
Chhath Puja, a four-day festival celebrated across Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, honors the Sun God and symbolizes purity, devotion, and community resilience. Millions gather annually along riverbanks to offer prayers, particularly at the Yamuna ghats in Delhi.
In 2025, the festival concluded on October 28, but its political echoes persist. During a rally in Muzaffarpur on October 29, Gandhi alleged that PM Modi’s participation in Chhath rituals was a “staged drama” meant for electoral optics. He claimed Modi performed his prayers not in the polluted Yamuna, but in a specially constructed pond filled with piped clean water — detached from the reality of ordinary worshippers.
Gandhi’s narrative depicted Modi as disconnected from the struggles of the common Bihari, while pollution in the Yamuna — worsened by industrial discharge and urban waste — remains a long-standing crisis and a recurring symbol of governance neglect.
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Rahul Gandhi’s Remarks in Nalanda: The “Two Indias” Narrative
Speaking in Nalanda, Gandhi sharpened his critique, declaring,
“There are two Indias. One where the Prime Minister bathes in clean, piped water, and another where ordinary citizens take their holy dip in the polluted Yamuna.”
He expanded the metaphor to economic disparity, accusing the Modi government of enriching corporate giants like Adani and Ambani while neglecting farmers, workers, and marginalized communities — “the second India.” Gandhi pledged that an INDIA bloc government would prioritize social justice, revive educational institutions like Nalanda University, and conduct a caste census to ensure equitable development.
Targeting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Gandhi alleged that Bihar’s governance was “remotely controlled” by the BJP. He also spotlighted persistent issues such as exam paper leaks, youth unemployment, and “vote theft” in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, warning that “constitutional erosion” was underway.
इंदिरा गांधी महिला थीं, लेकिन इस मर्द (नरेंद्र मोदी) से ज्यादा दम उनमें था। नरेंद्र मोदी डरपोक हैं।
1971 में इंदिरा गांधी अमेरिका से नहीं डरीं, उनके आगे नहीं झुकीं।
नरेंद्र मोदी में दम है तो कह दें कि ट्रंप ने ‘ऑपरेशन सिंदूर’ नहीं रुकवाया।
: नेता विपक्ष श्री @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/NB5kJn7RMo
— Congress (@INCIndia) October 30, 2025
Broader Campaign Context: Rallies and Counter-Narratives
October 30 marked a pivotal day in Bihar’s campaign trail, with top leaders holding multiple rallies:
| Leader | Alliance | Key Locations | Core Message |
| PM Narendra Modi | NDA | Muzaffarpur, Saran (Chhapra) | Pledged UNESCO heritage status for Chhath Puja, accused INDIA bloc of insulting Chhathi Maiyya, promised job creation under Mudra loans and women’s employment schemes, and warned of a “return to Jungle Raj.” |
| Amit Shah | NDA | Lakhisarai, Munger, Nalanda, Patna | Called INDIA bloc a “Thug Bandhan,” accused Rahul Gandhi of mocking Hindu faith, and announced Operation Sindoor to counter terror, alongside promises of a Maa Sita temple in Sitamarhi. |
| Rahul Gandhi | INDIA | Nalanda, Sheikhpura | Focused on inequality, corruption, and youth empowerment; emphasized “two Indias” message. |
| JP Nadda | NDA | Buxar, Patna | Highlighted NDA’s development model and welfare schemes. |
The NDA released its manifesto on October 31, promising metros, AIIMS campuses, and new airports, while the INDIA bloc’s manifesto is expected shortly. Bihar’s 7.43 crore voters, including 14 lakh first-timers, now weigh continuity under Nitish Kumar against Tejashwi Yadav’s promise of change.
BJP’s Rebuttal: Charges of Cultural Insensitivity
The BJP condemned Gandhi’s remarks as an insult to Bihar’s cultural and religious heritage. Amit Malviya accused him of mocking Chhath devotees, while CR Kesavan called his statements “poisonous hate.” Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan demanded an apology, calling it a “slur on Hindu faith.”
Sudhanshu Trivedi labeled Gandhi’s tone as “contemptuous,” and political analyst Pradeep Bhandari compared his approach to “street-level taunting.” However, Ashok Gehlot, Congress’s Bihar observer, clarified that Gandhi’s criticism was directed at the “artificial pond,” not the festival itself, calling the BJP’s outrage “manufactured theater.”
Social media reflected this divide — hashtags like #ChhathInsult and #TwoIndias trended in parallel, symbolizing Bihar’s cultural-political rift.
Implications for Bihar Elections
The Chhath Puja row encapsulates the 2025 Bihar elections’ core fault lines — faith versus fairness, development versus disparity, and emotion versus evidence. The NDA seeks to consolidate its base through cultural pride and Modi’s personal connect, while INDIA focuses on youth unemployment, caste equity, and corruption.
Surveys point to a tight contest: NDA benefits from Nitish Kumar’s governance record but faces anti-incumbency over job scarcity and education scandals. Gandhi’s rhetoric may alienate conservative sections but has energized the INDIA base, particularly among youth and marginalized voters.
As Phase I polls on November 6 approach, both alliances are escalating their narratives — with Chhath Puja now serving as a symbolic battlefield between religious sentiment and political performance.
Rahul Gandhi’s “Two Indias” message has transformed a spiritual ritual into a potent political metaphor. While it strengthens the INDIA bloc’s campaign on equity and governance, it also risks backlash from cultural conservatives, giving the NDA a rallying cause.
As Bihar prepares to vote, the contest is no longer just about seats — it’s about identity, symbolism, and whose version of India will prevail. The final phase of this campaign will test not only electoral strength but also the power of narrative in shaping Bihar’s political destiny.
