The Congress’s two-day extended session in Belagavi will also see the party strategizing for upcoming elections and discussing key issues impacting the nation. The presence of top leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, signifies the importance of this event. The discussions are expected to focus on the party’s roadmap for the upcoming state elections and national challenges, particularly addressing the concerns of farmers, unemployment, and social justice, which have become focal points for the Congress as it seeks to challenge the ruling BJP.

The rally “Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan” will serve as a platform for the Congress to highlight its commitment to safeguarding the Constitution and the rights of Dalits, tribals, and marginalized communities, resonating with the party’s historical stance on social justice. The participation of leaders such as Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar, and other Karnataka Congress leaders underlines the party’s focus on strengthening its position in Karnataka, where assembly elections are due in 2023.

Furthermore, the session’s backdrop—commemorating the centenary of Gandhi’s presiding over the 1924 Belgaum session—adds historical significance to the event. Gandhi’s vision of non-violence, communal harmony, and self-rule continues to resonate with the Congress’s ideology and will likely influence discussions on future strategies for India’s political landscape.

In a different political domain, the BJP-led NDA, during its meeting in New Delhi, expressed concerns over the Opposition’s criticism of the government, particularly regarding issues such as the interpretation of the Constitution and the role of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in India’s political history. The TDP, which is a key BJP ally, called for improved coordination within the NDA, drawing inspiration from the Opposition’s INDIA alliance’s unified stance. The BJP’s approach will likely focus on strengthening its messaging to counter the Opposition’s narrative, especially after recent controversies over remarks by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha.

On the issue of religious surveys, the RSS and BJP have adopted contrasting perspectives. While RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat criticized the constant focus on surveying religious structures, an editorial in The Organiser magazine stressed the importance of understanding the history of disputed sites. Meanwhile, BJP sources revealed that Sambhal is becoming a key religious destination in Uttar Pradesh, alongside Ayodhya, Mathura, and Kashi, following the foundation laying for the Kalki temple. This move further aligns the BJP with Hindu religious sentiments, especially with the temple of Lord Kalki, associated with the 10th incarnation of Vishnu, to be built in Sambhal.

With the BJP pushing its religious agenda, and Congress focusing on social justice, the ongoing political discourse in India is becoming increasingly polarized. Both parties are mobilizing their respective bases ahead of the next round of state elections and the 2024 general elections, setting the stage for a highly charged political atmosphere in the months ahead.