Anurag Thakur Targets Congress, Warns of Looming Electoral Setback Under Rahul Gandhi

Addressing the media in the national capital, Thakur alleged that Congress has failed to provide consistent leadership or policy direction, arguing that its declining public credibility is reflected in repeated electoral losses. He asserted that the party’s current trajectory could result in what he described as a “century of defeats,” a phrase used to underscore what he sees as Congress’s weakening standing among voters under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership.

As part of his criticism, Thakur pointed to what he called Congress’s habit of frequently renaming welfare schemes without substantive reform. He cited the evolution of a major rural employment initiative as an example, noting that the programme has undergone several name changes over the decades. According to Thakur, the scheme was introduced in 1989 as the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana, renamed Jawahar Gram Samriddhi Yojana in 1999, later restructured as the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana in 2001, rechristened as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) in 2004, and eventually renamed Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2009.

Thakur argued that such repeated rebranding, particularly of schemes associated with prominent national leaders, reflects an approach that prioritizes political symbolism over long-term policy consistency. He claimed this practice has contributed to public skepticism and has raised questions about the Congress party’s commitment to governance outcomes rather than political messaging.

The Congress has not issued an immediate response to Thakur’s remarks. However, the comments are expected to add to the already charged political atmosphere, with both major parties continuing to trade accusations over governance records, leadership credibility, and public trust.

As the political narrative sharpens, Thakur’s statements underline the BJP’s broader strategy of framing the Congress leadership as ineffective and disconnected from voter expectations. The exchange highlights how issues of leadership, legacy, and policy continuity are likely to remain central themes in the evolving national political discourse.