Understanding Gandhi’s re-emergence in India’s oppositional politics
Mahatma Gandhi has become a central figure in India's current oppositional politics, with various parties and activists invoking his legacy to challenge the establishment. The article explores how Gandhi's image is being utilized to promote civility and systemic change amidst a period of political churn.
Why it matters
The resurgence of Gandhian symbolism reflects a strategic shift in how Indian opposition parties are attempting to frame their ideological identity against the current government.
Mahatma Gandhi is back at the centre of India’s oppositional politics and public imagination. On the evening of 8 October, MPs from the INDIA bloc, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi , started a sit-in protest against India’s Chief Election Commissioner at Raj Ghat, the Mahatma’s memorial in New Delhi . At protests in Mumbai on the same issue on October 2, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke called Gandhi “the soul of India”. Protestors dressed as Gandhi have emerged across the country.
Citizen activists, such as the Uttarakhand resident “Mohammad” Deepak, who have defended members of the minority community against violent communal elements, claim to be inspired by Gandhi. And Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party, having opened its legislative account in Bihar and expanding to Delhi, uses Gandhi as its central inspiration alongside B.R. Ambedkar.
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