Sonia Gandhi featured as 'Bharat Mata' in Telangana hoarding, BJP slams Congress

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday launched its onslaught against the Congress party after posters portraying former party chief Sonia Gandhi as ‘Bharat Mata’ were placed in Telangana. Terming the Congress cadres move ‘shameful’, the saffron camp slammed the party leadership and said that the grand old party has always kept ‘Parivarvaad’ (dynasty politics) above Nation and people. 

Notably, the posters featuring Sonia Gandhi as Bharat Mata were put up after the first meeting of the reconstituted Congress Working Committee was held in Hyderabad on Sunday in view of the upcoming Assembly polls in Telangana. The meeting was attended by top Congress leaders, including Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge. 

Apart from Sonia Gandhi, the poster also held pictures of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party General Secretary KC Venugopal, among others. 

Poster featuring Sonia Gandhi as Bharat Mata placed in Telangana. (Credit: Republic)

BJP slams Congress 

Launching a strong attack on the Congress party, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala accused Congress of having a habit of insulting Bharat Mata. “First Congress leaders like Aradhna Mishra said Bharat Mata ki Jai is against party discipline; in the past BD Kalla has said Sonia Mata Ki Jai not Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” he added. 

“Now Congress equates Sonia Gandhi to Bharat Mata just like they had equated Indira to India! This is utterly shameful but shows how for Congress Parivar is always bigger than nation and people. Janta = Rakshas and Sonia ji is Bharat Mata!” the BJP spokesperson posted on X. 

CWC meeting in Hyderabad 

The CWC meeting in Hyderabad was speculated to have a huge political significance ahead of the state polls as it coincided with the 75th anniversary of the merger of the erstwhile Hyderabad state with the Indian Union on September 17, 1948. Following the meet, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to X (formerly Twitter) and announced the six guarantees of the grand old party to Telanaga ahead of the Assembly polls. 

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge further emphasised on the unity and maintaining discipline within the party. He also asked party leaders to set aside their personal differences to ensure the party’s success.