Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 2: The BJP on Sunday alleged that the Congress was witnessing an internal power struggle between two camps led by Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, claiming that the latter was deliberately denied an opportunity to speak at two INDIA bloc events in Delhi.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that Rahul Gandhi was apprehensive about Priyanka emerging as a prominent political leader and feared being sidelined by her. He also claimed that Priyanka's "vote had been stolen" within the Gandhi family itself.

In a video message posted on Instagram, Patra said Priyanka appeared unhappy during both the mock Parliament organised by the Congress on Saturday and the INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday.

The INDIA bloc on Saturday organised a symbolic public impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the Election Commission of functioning under the influence of the Narendra Modi-led government and alleging that citizens' voting rights were under threat.

On Sunday, the opposition alliance organised a major rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, targeting the BJP and the Election Commission over alleged electoral irregularities and the revision of electoral rolls.

Referring to Saturday's mock Parliament, Patra claimed that although several leaders, including those who were not members of Parliament, were given an opportunity to speak, Priyanka was not allowed to address the gathering.

He alleged that the same situation was repeated at Sunday's Ramlila Maidan rally, where several opposition leaders spoke but Priyanka was once again denied an opportunity.

"Could it be that a political game is being played within the Gandhi family itself?" Patra asked, suggesting that Rahul Gandhi feared losing political prominence if Priyanka was projected as a leader.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also alleged that separate Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi camps were emerging within the Congress and accused the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition of suppressing his sister's political rise.

Questioning whether an open battle was developing between the two camps, Bhandari claimed that Priyanka, despite serving as the Congress general secretary and being Rahul's sister, was not given an opportunity to address Sunday's rally.

He further alleged that during the mock Parliament, Rahul Gandhi's 100th political "relaunch exercise", Priyanka was seated in the second row and was not allowed to speak.

Bhandari questioned whether Rahul Gandhi was attempting to push Priyanka into the background while focusing on his own political image rather than strengthening the Congress party.

He also asked whether the so-called Rahul camp was feeling insecure about Priyanka's growing political prominence and whether the Priyanka camp was being deliberately sidelined.

The BJP's remarks came amid the INDIA bloc's renewed campaign against alleged electoral irregularities and its criticism of the Election Commission over the revision of voter lists. The Congress and other opposition parties have maintained that their campaign is aimed at protecting voting rights and ensuring transparency in the electoral process.