Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asserted that the INDIA bloc has effectively “already won” the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, while stressing that opposition parties must remain united to counter the BJP.Sharing a Hindi version of his speech delivered at the INDIA bloc meeting on June 8, Gandhi said unity and resistance were essential at a time when the country’s institutions and democratic values were under strain.‘We did not lose 2024’In a post on X, Gandhi said, “I am saying it again… We did not lose the 2024 elections, and we have already won the 2029 elections.”He maintained that the opposition would continue to organise people and collectively challenge what he described as the BJP’s takeover of institutions.“When India’s thinking, the soul of the country, is in crisis… when there is a takeover of institutions… when the voice of the people is suppressed… then only resistance with unity works,” he wrote.‘Will defeat BJP’Gandhi further expressed confidence that all INDIA bloc constituents would remain committed to defending the idea of India.“We will remain united, organize every individual, and defeat the BJP’s takeover of India’s institutions with the power of resistance.”In the meeting held on Monday, Rahul Gandhi gave a call to the opposition leaders to stay united, saying it is easy to beat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “if we stand together and resist”. He also expressed disappointment over the lack of support from some partners on issues such as alleged “vote chori”.Dravida Munnetra Kazahagam (DMK) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) refrained from joining the meeting.
