Rahul Gandhi in Kochi: Congress vs BJP on Grassroots Power

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At the Congress Maha Panchayat in Kochi, Rahul Gandhi invokes the 73rd–74th Amendments to contrast Congress decentralisation with BJP–RSS centralisation.

By TRH Political Desk

Kochi, January 19, 2026 — Addressing a Congress Maha Panchayat in Kochi, Rahul Gandhi mounted a sharp constitutional critique of the BJP–RSS ecosystem, asserting that the soul of Indian democracy lies in decentralisation, not command-and-control governance.

Invoking the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, Rahul Gandhi reminded party workers and local representatives that it was the Congress which institutionalised Panchayati Raj and urban local bodies. “The foundation of our Constitution is one man, one vote,” he said, arguing that democracy is meaningful only when every citizen has a direct voice in decision-making.

Drawing a clear ideological divide, Gandhi said the BJP and RSS believe in centralisation of power, while the Congress stands for decentralisation of authority. “They want compliance, not conversation. They do not want to hear the voice of the people,” he alleged, accusing the ruling dispensation of weakening grassroots institutions.

Rahul Gandhi stressed that control over resources such as water, local infrastructure and development priorities must rest with communities, not distant power centres. According to him, the erosion of local governance undermines the constitutional promise of participation and accountability.

The Kochi address comes as the Congress intensifies its push to reframe the 2026 electoral narrative around constitutional values, federalism and people-centric governance. By foregrounding Panchayati Raj, Rahul Gandhi signalled that the party intends to challenge the BJP not just electorally, but ideologically—on the very meaning of democracy.

As political polarisation deepens, Gandhi’s message positions the Congress as a defender of bottom-up governance, seeking to reclaim its legacy as the architect of India’s grassroots democracy.