Rahul Gandhi likens Opposition protest to tandav, calls it ‘Shivji ki baraat’, where everyone is welcome

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday (October 12, 2026) compared the repeated protests by the Opposition against alleged “vote chori “ (theft) to Lord Shiva’s tandav (cosmic dance), while claiming that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar had sent him messages.

“This is tandav, Lord Shiva’s dance. There is no planning here,” Mr. Gandhi said in response to a question on the Opposition’s future strategy on the issue, adding, “There is no need for a plan. A dance is going on, Lord Shiva’s dance. And anyone can join Shivji ki baraat (the wedding procession of Lord Shiva).”

The Opposition leader addressed a press conference at the Congress headquarters, Indira Bhavan, before parties belonging to the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) marched towards the Supreme Court from the Barakhamba Road intersection in central Delhi.

Mr. Gandhi claimed that as many as 200 officers of the Narendra Modi government had kept providing information to them, and used his press conference to address Mr. Kumar directly, reiterating his suggestion that the CEC should turn an approver in the alleged vote chori issue.