Can Rahul Gandhi’s ‘unity marches’ change the outcome of India’s general election?

Many people are reported to have found resonance in Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s “unity marches” and slogans of justice and unity. Next month, India will hold elections. Could this movement be sufficient to secure his victory?

The facts

One of the world’s most populous country, India, will be heading to the polls in a general election in April this year to elect a new government. So far, the stage has been set for the elections which will span some 44 days before a winner can be determined.

Ahead of the elections, Rahul had deployed a rather unique way of wooing the electorate through what has become known as the ‘Unity Marches’. The exercise first took place from the south to the north of India from September 2022 to January 2023.

As the elections got closer, the Congress Party leader begun the walk this year January and ended it about four days ago. Thousands of Indians including celebrities and some politicians gathered at these rallies in support of the opposition flagbearer.

Songs and slogans calling for “freedom” from the present Narendra Modi government were frequently heard during these demonstrations. More iconic in these rallies is the venue which has served as host to freedom fighters who fought for India’s independence from British rule decades back.

The arguments

The primary opposition candidate and member of the Indian Parliament, Rahul Gandhi, will face off against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is running for a third term in power.

303 seats were gained by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, in the most recent general election.

However, Rahul Gandhi, the opposition leader has been touted to be a wild card in the election especially on the back of his unity walk. His roots being traced to Indian nationalist, Mahatma Gandhi, has also been labelled by experts as another factor.

The ‘unity marches’ in the past few months became festive with numbers increasing by the day. Supporters of Rahul Gandhi were sighted carrying flags and life-sized cardboard cutouts of politicians whom they are seeking to topple in the elections.

It’s uncertain, according to analysts, whether this will result in votes. On the other hand, some of his critics are supporting him now.

On Sunday, Gandhi and his supporters from other opposition parties birthed an official campaign. Dubbed as the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) at Shivaji Park situated in Mumbai.

The alliance is looking to win the election over Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party which has faced widespread criticism even from members of India’s Congress for allegedly using religious lines to divide the nation.

They have also accused Modi’s party of giving preferential treatment to key industrialists who support the party.

According to reports, these messages are resonating with some supporters across the country.

Although momentum was built on the streets with these unity marches, Rahul Gandhi, the INDIA alliance and Congress have a daunting task to turn public sentiment into key votes.

For instance, they will need more than their organic supporters to claim the 303 seats being held by Modi’s party and they will need to do this by a large majority. Congress currently holds just 52 seats in lower house of India’s parliament.

India’s general election next month will see close to a billion of its citizens participate in a seven-phase election cycle set to take place for some 44 days beginning from April 19, 2024 to June 4, 2024 after which results will be announced.