On April 8, 2025, as the sun rose over the bustling streets of Ahmedabad, the Congress party, led by Rahul Gandhi, prepared to convene its Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Gujarat—a state that has long been a fortress of Narendra Modi’s political dominance. The decision to hold this high-profile gathering here, followed by an All India Congress Committee (AICC) session on April 8-9, has sparked intrigue and debate. Why would Rahul Gandhi, acutely aware of Modi’s towering influence over Gujarat, choose this battleground to rally his party’s top brass? The answer lies in a blend of defiance, strategic foresight, and an unyielding resolve to reshape the Congress’s fortunes in a land where it has been relegated to the margins for nearly three decades.
Gujarat is no ordinary state for Indian politics. It is the crucible of Modi’s rise—a place where he honed his image as a decisive leader during his 12-year stint as Chief Minister from 2001 to 2014, and where his personal charisma and the BJP’s organizational might have since kept the Congress at bay. The numbers tell a stark story: zero Lok Sabha seats for Congress in 2014 and 2019, and a paltry 17 Assembly seats in 2022 against the BJP’s commanding 156. Modi’s individual control here is not just electoral—it’s emotional, cultural, and symbolic, rooted in his identity as a Gujarati son who ascended to the Prime Minister’s office. For Rahul Gandhi to step into this lion’s den with the CWC, the party’s apex decision-making body, is nothing short of a political high-wire act. Yet, beneath the apparent audacity lies a calculated strategy.
At its core, Rahul Gandhi’s decision is an act of confrontation—a refusal to let Modi’s dominance go unchallenged. Gujarat, as Modi’s backyard, offers the perfect stage for Rahul to sharpen his ideological duel with the BJP. He has long framed this fight as a clash of values: the inclusive, pluralistic legacy of Mahatma Gandhi versus what he calls the divisive, hate-driven ideology of Nathuram Godse, Modi’s philosophical foil in Congress’s narrative. During the last CWC meeting in Gujarat on March 12, 2019, Rahul stood at the Sabarmati Ashram, invoking the Mahatma’s spirit to rally his party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. In 2025, X posts quoting him vowing to “break the arrogance of the BJP” in Gujarat suggest this rhetoric remains central. By planting the Congress flag in Modi’s stronghold, Rahul signals that his party will not shrink from the fight, even where the odds are steepest.
Beyond symbolism, the choice of Gujarat reflects a pragmatic push to revive a flagging organization. The Congress has been a shadow of its former self in the state since losing power in 1995, its grassroots eroded by the BJP’s relentless machine. Rahul Gandhi knows that without a foothold in Gujarat, the party’s national ambitions remain hollow. The CWC meeting, followed by the AICC session, is a clarion call to his cadre—a chance to strategize, mobilize, and inject fresh energy into a demoralized rank-and-file. His recent visit to Gujarat underscored this urgency, with reports of him pressing for structural overhaul, even if it means sidelining entrenched local leaders. The 2017 Assembly election, where Congress won 77 seats and briefly rattled the BJP, offers a glimmer of hope—a reminder that Modi’s grip, while formidable, is not unbreakable. Rahul’s gamble is that a high-profile event like the CWC can spark the momentum needed for the 2027 state polls.
There’s also a broader narrative at play. Modi’s towering presence in Gujarat makes it a megaphone for political messaging. Any crack in the BJP’s armor here—be it a well-attended rally or a cohesive party show—could ripple nationally, denting the perception of Modi’s invincibility. Rahul Gandhi, whose leadership has often been tested by electoral setbacks, sees Gujarat as a proving ground. His Bharat Jodo Yatras have cast him as a resilient figure willing to take on Goliath; holding the CWC in Gujarat fits this persona. It’s a chance to turn Modi’s strength into an opportunity, leveraging the state’s high stakes to amplify Congress’s voice.
The symbolism of the venue adds another layer. The Sardar Patel Memorial and Sabarmati Ashram, likely settings for the 2025 meetings as they were in 2019, tie the Congress to Gujarat’s historical giants—Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel—figures the BJP has aggressively claimed for its own pantheon. By gathering here, Rahul Gandhi seeks to wrest back this legacy, appealing to Gujarati pride while reminding voters of Congress’s role in the freedom struggle. It’s a subtle but pointed counter to Modi’s narrative dominance.
Critics might call it a fool’s errand—a waste of energy in a state where Modi’s sway seems absolute. The Congress’s past forays into Gujarat have yielded little, and the BJP’s organizational juggernaut remains unmatched. Yet, for Rahul Gandhi, retreat is not an option. To abandon Gujarat would be to concede defeat not just in one state, but in the larger war for relevance. His decision to hold the CWC here, despite Modi’s control, is a bet on the future—a belief that persistence, even in the face of towering odds, can slowly chip away at a monolith. Whether this gambit pays off remains to be seen, but for now, Rahul Gandhi has chosen to fight where the battle is hardest, and that alone speaks volumes.