Rahul Gandhi stands disqualified: What next?

It is known that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been disqualified from the Lok Sabha. This followed his conviction in a defamation case by a court in Gujarat’s Surat. Two years ago, in a political rally, Gandhi remarked that all thieves have Modi as their surname. He was referring to Narendra Modi, Lalit Modi, and Nirav Modi.

The decision has become the biggest political development in the country in months. It is likely to have far-reaching implications in the coming years if the disqualification stays and RaGa doesn’t get to contest in elections. Already, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has described the disqualification as emblematic of the despotic and dictatorial tendencies of the Narendra Modi government. Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray said that calling a thief a thief has become a crime in India. “Thieves and looters are still free and Rahul Gandhi was punished. This is a direct murder of democracy,” he added.

What next for RaGa, now that he has been shown the door by the Lok Sabha Speaker?  As per political analysts, a higher court will most likely put a stay on the disqualification. The Chief Justice of India is expected to intervene, leading to the Wayanad MP remaining in the political game for the 2024 elections.

On its part, the BJP leadership is trying to project RaGa’s infamous speech as a case of casteist slur against the OBCs of India. BJP National President JP Nadda has taken a stance along those lines.