Referring to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s repeated criticism of Jawaharlal Nehru and the Gandhi family, Chowdhury claimed that party leaders were making such statements to attract the leadership’s attention ahead of a possible Cabinet reshuffle. She maintained that these attacks would strengthen rather than weaken the Congress.
Asked whether Rahul Gandhi could become prime minister after the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, Chowdhury said he had never personally made such a claim and that the country would ultimately decide. She praised his nationwide political campaigns and said his statements should be taken seriously.
Chowdhury further alleged that the BJP was using institutions such as the Election Commission and the Enforcement Directorate to intimidate opposition parties and encourage defections.
She declined to comment extensively on the BJP’s organisational reshuffle, describing it as the party’s internal matter. However, she welcomed Smriti Irani’s return to an organisational role, calling her talented and expressing satisfaction that a woman had regained a position in the party.
On the Jharkhand government’s response to protests over alleged recruitment examination irregularities, Chowdhury praised Chief Minister Hemant Soren and said the developments demonstrated the strength of democratic protest.
She also dismissed attempts to portray comments by US President Donald Trump on India’s electoral system as a major endorsement. Pointing to Washington’s tariff measures, Chowdhury argued that India should not seek validation from foreign leaders and said Western countries also had lessons to learn from the country’s democratic history.
With IANS inputs
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