New Delhi: At the unveiling of the Congress party’s election manifesto, Rahul Gandhi expressed serious concerns over the state of democracy and the Constitution in India, stating they are at unprecedented risk. The Congress leader, forecasting a challenging scenario for the BJP, suggested the party might struggle to secure 160-180 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, contrary to media predictions.

Gandhi described the election as uniquely critical, emphasizing the manifesto’s grassroots origins: “The manifesto is written by the people of India,” he asserted, underscoring the participatory nature of their electoral platform.

Addressing the question of the Congress's prime ministerial candidate, Gandhi highlighted the formation of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) by opposition parties. This coalition, he explained, is focused on an ideological battle, with leadership decisions postponed until post-election.

He sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly monopolizing political finance through the use of Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Income Tax (IT) to control the political funding landscape. Gandhi accused the current administration of manipulating the system to benefit a select few, framing the election as a pivotal struggle between the defenders of the Constitution and its detractors.

Gandhi remained optimistic about Congress's prospects, drawing parallels with the 2004 elections where the media’s narrative of an inevitable BJP victory, reminiscent of the “India Shining” campaign, was proven wrong. He assured that the election would be closer than anticipated, reiterating his commitment to winning the fight for a democratic and inclusive India.