Rahul Rajiv Gandhi (Hindi pronunciation: [ˈraːɦʊl raːdʒiːʋ ˈɡaːndʱiː] ⓘ; born 19 June

1970) is an Indian politician. A member of the Indian National Congress (INC), he

has served as the 12th Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and as the member of
the Lok Sabha for Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, since June 2024.[c][d] He previously
represented the constituency of Wayanad, Kerala, from 2019 to 2024, and Amethi,
Uttar Pradesh, from 2004 to 2019. Gandhi served as the party president of the INC
from December 2017 to July 2019 and is the chairperson of the Indian Youth
Congress, the National Students Union of India, and a trustee of the Rajiv Gandhi
Foundation and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust. He is a member of the Nehru–Gandhi
political family.
Born in New Delhi, Gandhi spent his early childhood between Delhi
and Dehradun and stayed away from the public sphere for much of his childhood
and early youth. He received primary education in New Delhi and then attended the
elite all-boys' boarding The Doon School in Dehradun. Due to security concerns, he
was later home-schooled. Gandhi commenced his undergraduate degree at St.
Stephen's College before moving to Harvard University. The following year, due to
security threats following the assassination of his father, he moved to Rollins
College in Florida, completing his degree in 1994. The next year, he obtained
his M.Phil. from Cambridge. After completing his post-graduation, he initiated his
professional career with the Monitor Group, a management consulting firm
in London. Soon thereafter, he returned to India and founded Backops Services
Private Ltd, a technology outsourcing firm based in Mumbai.

Gandhi contested and won a seat in the Lok Sabha from Amethi in 2004, winning
reelection in 2009 and 2014. Gandhi led the INC in the 2014 and 2019 Indian
general elections, with the party facing significant losses in both, winning only 44 and
52 seats, respectively. In Parliament, Gandhi has served as a member of several
Parliamentary Committees including Home Affairs, Human Resource
Development, External Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs
and Defence. Before the 2024 general elections, Gandhi led the Bharat Jodo
Yatra and the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, and helped the INC in securing 99 seats,
thus garnering the party the Official Opposition status for the first time in 10 years,
with himself being nominated to serve as leader of the Official Opposition. He won
the seat of Rae Bareli in the election, succeeding his mother, Sonia Gandhi.[12][13][14]

Early life and background

Further information: Nehru–Gandhi family

Gandhi along with Sonia Gandhi, then POI Pratibha Patil,

then VPOI Ansari, then PM at the memorial of his grandmother Indira Gandhi
Gandhi was born on 19 June 1970 at Holy Family Hospital in Delhi.[15] He was the
first of two children born to Rajiv Gandhi, who later served as the 6th Prime Minister
of India, and Sonia Gandhi, who went on to become the President of the Indian
National Congress. As the grandson of former prime minister Indira Gandhi, his
lineage is deeply rooted in Indian political history. His paternal grandfather, Feroze
Gandhi, hailed from Gujarat and was of Parsi descent.[16] Furthermore, he is the
great-grandson of India's inaugural prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Gandhi completed his elementary education at St. Columba's School in New Delhi.
[17]
He then attended The Doon School in Dehradun (an elite all-boys' boarding
school, also the alma mater of his father, Rajiv Gandhi) from 1981 to 1983.[18] At
Doon, Gandhi's contemporaries were the former Congress, now-Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) politicians Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada.[19][20] Following
the assassination of Indira Gandhi by Sikhs in her personal guard on 31 October
1984, his father entered politics and became the 6th Prime Minister of India. Due to
security threats from Sikh extremists, Gandhi and his sister Priyanka were home-
schooled, taking examinations under the supervision of teachers.[21] Spending their
childhood away from media attention, Gandhi and his sister kept low profiles,
appearing with their parents at only a handful of public occasions.[22]

Gandhi joined St. Stephen's College, Delhi, an affiliated college of the University of
Delhi, in 1989 for his undergraduate education.[23] Gandhi's academic performance in
Class XII, with a score of 61 per cent in the CBSE school certificate, was perceived
as not particularly strong.[24] He gained admission to St. Stephen’s College for BA
(Honors) History through the sports quota, which granted a 10 per cent advantage in
exam scores to promising athletes; per National Rifle Association of
India testimonials, Gandhi stood 4th in the 32nd National Shooting Competition held
in New Delhi from 26 December 1988 to 5 January 1989.[24] Gandhi had finished
fourth in the Centre Fire Pistol 25 M (Indian Rule) Men’s civilian event with a score of
371 out of 400 points.[24] By July 1989, Gandhi had won eight national awards. In
1991, following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE during an election
rally, Gandhi left St. Stephen’s and moved to Harvard University. Due to security
concerns, he subsequently relocated to Rollins College in Florida. He further went on
to obtain an Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Development Studies, from Trinity
College, Cambridge in 1995.[25][26]

After completing higher education, Gandhi worked at the Monitor Group,

a management consulting firm set up by Michael Porter of Harvard Business School,
in London for three years.[27] In 2002, he returned to India and established
his technology consultancy, Backops Services Private Ltd, in Mumbai, where he
served as one of the directors of the firm.[28] Subsequently, he founded BackOps UK,
a company that secured defence contracts from foreign suppliers.[29]

Political career
Formative years
 Gandhi (right) with Hillary Clinton, Sonia
Gandhi and Karan Singh in New Delhi, 2009
In March 2004, Gandhi announced his entry into politics by declaring that he would
contest the 14th general elections from his father's former constituency
of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha, India's lower house of parliament.
[30]
His mother had held the seat until she transferred to the neighbouring
constituency of Raebareli. When Gandhi made this announcement, it came as a
surprise to political commentators, who had perceived his sister Priyanka Gandhi as
the more charismatic and probable successor. It generated speculation that the
presence of a young member of India's most famous political family would
reinvigorate the Congress party's political fortunes among India's youthful population.
[31]
In his first interview with foreign media, Gandhi portrayed himself as a uniter of the
country and condemned "divisive" politics in India, saying that he would try to
reduce caste and religious tensions.[32]

After being out of power for a record eight years, the Congress party returned to
power, winning a total of 145 seats in the 2004 Indian general election. A coalition
government was formed at the center by Congress with the backing of regional
parties. Gandhi secured a victory by a substantial margin of over 100,000 votes,
thereby maintaining the stronghold of his family in Uttar Pradesh.[33] The party
performed poorly in Uttar Pradesh, as it held only 10 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats
in the state, with a vote share of 12.53 per cent.[34] Gandhi did not hold any official
role or position within the government.[35] From 2004 to 2006, Gandhi served as a
member for the Standing Committee on Home Affairs. Between 2006 and 2009, he
served as the member of the Standing Committee on Human Resource
Development.[36]

Gandhi and his sister, Priyanka, managed their mother's campaign for re-election
to Raebareilly in 2006, which was won with a margin of over 400,000 votes.[37] He
was a prominent figure in the Congress campaign for the 2007 Uttar Pradesh
Legislative Assembly election; Congress did not perform well in those elections,
winning only 22 seats of the 403 seats with 8.53 per cent of the vote.[38] On 24
September 2007, Gandhi was appointed as the General Secretary of the All India
Congress Committee, the governing body of the Congress party, as part of a
reshuffle of the party secretariat.[39] In the same reshuffle, he was also given charge
of the Indian Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India.[40]

Youth politics
In September 2007, Gandhi was appointed as general secretary of the Indian Youth
Congress (IYC), segment of the Congress party that represents the younger
generation, and the National Students Union of India (NSUI), the faction that caters
to the student community.[41] As the general secretary of the Indian Youth Congress
(IYC) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI), Gandhi played a notable role
in shaping the policies and strategies of these organisations. After his appointment,
both groups saw a significant increase in membership, from 200,000 to 2.5 million.
[42]
The IYC underwent a restructuring process to make it more democratic and
inclusive.[43][44] In November 2008, Gandhi held interviews at his 12 Tughlak Lane
residence in New Delhi to handpick at least 40 people to make up the IYC's think
tank.[45] In 2009, during Gandhi's visit to West Bengal, the state unit of the Youth
Congress registered 1 million members.[46] Similarly, the IYC only acquired around 10
to 15 new members per day in each assembly segment of Uttar Pradesh. After his
visit, the number surged to 150 to 200 new members per day in the same regions.[47]

While serving as the general secretary of the NSUI, Gandhi played an active role in
strengthening the organisation and increasing student participation in politics.
[43]
Under his leadership, the NSUI initiated programs and campaigns to address
issues affecting the student community, such as the quality of education,
employment opportunities, and social justice.[48][49][50] Gandhi also advocated for greater
student representation in decision-making processes and supported student
leaders in their endeavours.[51]

General election campaigns

2009
For the 2009 Indian general election, Gandhi campaigned across India covering 22
states and 107 constituencies.[52][53] His campaigning included addressing public
rallies and meetings, interacting with voters, and highlighting the party's vision and
agenda for the country.[54] He specifically focused on issues such as rural
development, education, employment, and women's empowerment. Gandhi, also
emphasised the importance of youth participation in politics and urged them to be
more involved in shaping the country's future.[55] The nationwide elections defied the
predictions made by pre-poll predictions and exit polls and gave a clear mandate to
the incumbent, Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
[56]
While the Congress did not win a majority in the election, they emerged as the
largest party and formed a coalition government with the support of other parties.
[57]
Gandhi retained his Amethi seat by defeating his nearest rival by a margin of over
370,000 votes.[58] Gandhi was credited with the Congress revival in Uttar Pradesh
where they won 21 out of the total 80 Lok Sabha seats.[59][60]

2014
Gandhi contested the 2014 Indian general election from his constituency, Amethi,
[61]
and led the election campaign of the Indian National Congress.[62] Gandhi held the
Amethi seat by defeating his nearest rival, BJP's Smriti Irani, by a reduced margin of
107,000 votes,[60][63] but the Congress suffered its worst-ever performance at an
election and won only 44 seats, compared to the 206 seats won in 2009.[64][65] The
UPA also had its worst-ever performance in elections and won only 59 seats,
compared to the 262 seats won in 2009.[65][66][67] After the defeat, Gandhi offered to
resign his posts, only to be rejected by the party's working committee.[68]

2019
Gandhi led the 2019 election campaign of the Congress party. During campaign,
Gandhi announced "Nyay" (Nyuntam Aay Yojana— Minimum Income Gurantee)
Scheme promising Rs 6,000 each to 20 per cent poorest households to his election
speeches.[69] Gandhi also promised to fill 22 lakhs government jobs within one year
coming to power at the Centre. Gandhi used the slogan "Chowkidar Chor Hai" as a
jibe against Narendra Modi, BJP's prime ministerial candidate during his election
rallies.[70][71] The slogan was aimed at Modi about the alleged irregularities and
favouritism in awarding the contracts for the Rafale fighter jet deal.[72][73] Post election
results the INC won 52 seats, eight more than the previous election. Its vote
percentage once again fell below 20 per cent. Gandhi won the Wayanad seat with
over 60 per cent vote share.[74] He lost his existing seat of Amethi to Smriti Irani of the
BJP by a margin of 55,120 votes.[75]

National Herald case

The National Herald case revolves around allegations of financial irregularities and
misuse of funds related to the National Herald newspaper. The case garnered
attention when former BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a complaint accusing
Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and five other Congress party leaders—Motilal
Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, and Satyan Pitroda—of cheating and
misappropriating funds associated with the National Herald. The allegations by then-
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy centered on a loan given by the Congress party to
"Associated Journals Limited" (AJL), the company that owned the National Herald
newspaper.[76] Subramanian Swamy alleged that the loan, amounting to around ₹90
crore (equivalent to ₹202 crore or US$24 million in 2023), was not repaid. Instead, it
was converted into equity, effectively transferring the ownership of AJL to a new
company called "Young India Ltd" (YIL), in which Sonia Gandhi hold 76 per cent of
the company's shares, and the remaining 24 per cent are held by Congress leaders
Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes.[76] As per Swamy, YIL only paid ₹54
lakh (equivalent to ₹1.2 crore or US$150,000 in 2023) to get back ₹90 crore that
Associated AJL owed to the Congress party. He also alleged that the loan given to
AJL was illegal, as it had been taken from party funds.[76]

The case went through various legal proceedings, including hearings in lower courts
and the Delhi High Court. In December 2015, the Delhi High Court dismissed the
appeals of Sonia Gandhi and five others, ordering them to appear in person before
the trial court.[77] In 2015, the Supreme Court of India instructed Swamy to present
arguments for expediting the trial in the high court. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi
were granted bail by the trial court on 19 December 2015. Subsequently, in 2016,
the Supreme Court exempted all five accused individuals (including the Gandhis,
Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, and Suman Dubey) from personally attending court
hearings but declined to dismiss the ongoing legal proceedings against them.[76] In
December 2020, the Delhi court dismissed a petition filed by then-BJP
leader Subramanian Swamy seeking to summon Rahul and Sonia Gandhi and
others as accused in the case. The court held that there was no prima facie evidence
to suggest their involvement in any corruption conspiracy.[78] In 2014,
the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated an investigation into Swamy's complaint to
determine if there were any indications of money laundering. The investigation was
closed due to technical reasons. Nonetheless, Swamy wrote to prime
minister Narendra Modi expressing his suspicions about ED Director Ranjan Katoch.
Subsequently, in 2015, Katoch was replaced, and the case was reopened. In
December 2015, the Patiala court granted bail to the five individuals accused in the
case.[79] The Congress party objected to Swamy's complaint to the complaint,
labelling it as “vindictive politics”.[80]

Rahul Rajiv Gandhi (Hindi pronunciation: [ˈraːɦʊl raːdʒiːʋ ˈɡaːndʱiː] ⓘ; born 19 June
1970) is an Indian politician. A member of the Indian National Congress (INC), he
has served as the 12th Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and as the member of
the Lok Sabha for Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, since June 2024.[c][d] He previously
represented the constituency of Wayanad, Kerala, from 2019 to 2024, and Amethi,
Uttar Pradesh, from 2004 to 2019. Gandhi served as the party president of the INC
from December 2017 to July 2019 and is the chairperson of the Indian Youth
Congress, the National Students Union of India, and a trustee of the Rajiv Gandhi
Foundation and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust. He is a member of the Nehru–Gandhi
political family.
Born in New Delhi, Gandhi spent his early childhood between Delhi
and Dehradun and stayed away from the public sphere for much of his childhood
and early youth. He received primary education in New Delhi and then attended the
elite all-boys' boarding The Doon School in Dehradun. Due to security concerns, he
was later home-schooled. Gandhi commenced his undergraduate degree at St.
Stephen's College before moving to Harvard University. The following year, due to
security threats following the assassination of his father, he moved to Rollins
College in Florida, completing his degree in 1994. The next year, he obtained
his M.Phil. from Cambridge. After completing his post-graduation, he initiated his
professional career with the Monitor Group, a management consulting firm
in London. Soon thereafter, he returned to India and founded Backops Services
Private Ltd, a technology outsourcing firm based in Mumbai.

Gandhi contested and won a seat in the Lok Sabha from Amethi in 2004, winning
reelection in 2009 and 2014. Gandhi led the INC in the 2014 and 2019 Indian
general elections, with the party facing significant losses in both, winning only 44 and
52 seats, respectively. In Parliament, Gandhi has served as a member of several
Parliamentary Committees including Home Affairs, Human Resource
Development, External Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs
and Defence. Before the 2024 general elections, Gandhi led the Bharat Jodo
Yatra and the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, and helped the INC in securing 99 seats,
thus garnering the party the Official Opposition status for the first time in 10 years,
with himself being nominated to serve as leader of the Official Opposition. He won
the seat of Rae Bareli in the election, succeeding his mother, Sonia Gandhi.[12][13][14]

Early life and background

Further information: Nehru–Gandhi family

Gandhi along with Sonia Gandhi, then POI Pratibha Patil,

then VPOI Ansari, then PM at the memorial of his grandmother Indira Gandhi
Gandhi was born on 19 June 1970 at Holy Family Hospital in Delhi.[15] He was the
first of two children born to Rajiv Gandhi, who later served as the 6th Prime Minister
of India, and Sonia Gandhi, who went on to become the President of the Indian
National Congress. As the grandson of former prime minister Indira Gandhi, his
lineage is deeply rooted in Indian political history. His paternal grandfather, Feroze
Gandhi, hailed from Gujarat and was of Parsi descent.[16] Furthermore, he is the
great-grandson of India's inaugural prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Gandhi completed his elementary education at St. Columba's School in New Delhi.
[17]
He then attended The Doon School in Dehradun (an elite all-boys' boarding
school, also the alma mater of his father, Rajiv Gandhi) from 1981 to 1983.[18] At
Doon, Gandhi's contemporaries were the former Congress, now-Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) politicians Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada.[19][20] Following
the assassination of Indira Gandhi by Sikhs in her personal guard on 31 October
1984, his father entered politics and became the 6th Prime Minister of India. Due to
security threats from Sikh extremists, Gandhi and his sister Priyanka were home-
schooled, taking examinations under the supervision of teachers.[21] Spending their
childhood away from media attention, Gandhi and his sister kept low profiles,
appearing with their parents at only a handful of public occasions.[22]

Gandhi joined St. Stephen's College, Delhi, an affiliated college of the University of
Delhi, in 1989 for his undergraduate education.[23] Gandhi's academic performance in
Class XII, with a score of 61 per cent in the CBSE school certificate, was perceived
as not particularly strong.[24] He gained admission to St. Stephen’s College for BA
(Honors) History through the sports quota, which granted a 10 per cent advantage in
exam scores to promising athletes; per National Rifle Association of
India testimonials, Gandhi stood 4th in the 32nd National Shooting Competition held
in New Delhi from 26 December 1988 to 5 January 1989.[24] Gandhi had finished
fourth in the Centre Fire Pistol 25 M (Indian Rule) Men’s civilian event with a score of
371 out of 400 points.[24] By July 1989, Gandhi had won eight national awards. In
1991, following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE during an election
rally, Gandhi left St. Stephen’s and moved to Harvard University. Due to security
concerns, he subsequently relocated to Rollins College in Florida. He further went on
to obtain an Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Development Studies, from Trinity
College, Cambridge in 1995.[25][26]

After completing higher education, Gandhi worked at the Monitor Group,

a management consulting firm set up by Michael Porter of Harvard Business School,
in London for three years.[27] In 2002, he returned to India and established
his technology consultancy, Backops Services Private Ltd, in Mumbai, where he
served as one of the directors of the firm.[28] Subsequently, he founded BackOps UK,
a company that secured defence contracts from foreign suppliers.[29]

Political career
Formative years
 Gandhi (right) with Hillary Clinton, Sonia
Gandhi and Karan Singh in New Delhi, 2009
In March 2004, Gandhi announced his entry into politics by declaring that he would
contest the 14th general elections from his father's former constituency
of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha, India's lower house of parliament.
[30]
His mother had held the seat until she transferred to the neighbouring
constituency of Raebareli. When Gandhi made this announcement, it came as a
surprise to political commentators, who had perceived his sister Priyanka Gandhi as
the more charismatic and probable successor. It generated speculation that the
presence of a young member of India's most famous political family would
reinvigorate the Congress party's political fortunes among India's youthful population.
[31]
In his first interview with foreign media, Gandhi portrayed himself as a uniter of the
country and condemned "divisive" politics in India, saying that he would try to
reduce caste and religious tensions.[32]

After being out of power for a record eight years, the Congress party returned to
power, winning a total of 145 seats in the 2004 Indian general election. A coalition
government was formed at the center by Congress with the backing of regional
parties. Gandhi secured a victory by a substantial margin of over 100,000 votes,
thereby maintaining the stronghold of his family in Uttar Pradesh.[33] The party
performed poorly in Uttar Pradesh, as it held only 10 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats
in the state, with a vote share of 12.53 per cent.[34] Gandhi did not hold any official
role or position within the government.[35] From 2004 to 2006, Gandhi served as a
member for the Standing Committee on Home Affairs. Between 2006 and 2009, he
served as the member of the Standing Committee on Human Resource
Development.[36]

Gandhi and his sister, Priyanka, managed their mother's campaign for re-election
to Raebareilly in 2006, which was won with a margin of over 400,000 votes.[37] He
was a prominent figure in the Congress campaign for the 2007 Uttar Pradesh
Legislative Assembly election; Congress did not perform well in those elections,
winning only 22 seats of the 403 seats with 8.53 per cent of the vote.[38] On 24
September 2007, Gandhi was appointed as the General Secretary of the All India
Congress Committee, the governing body of the Congress party, as part of a
reshuffle of the party secretariat.[39] In the same reshuffle, he was also given charge
of the Indian Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India.[40]

Youth politics
In September 2007, Gandhi was appointed as general secretary of the Indian Youth
Congress (IYC), segment of the Congress party that represents the younger
generation, and the National Students Union of India (NSUI), the faction that caters
to the student community.[41] As the general secretary of the Indian Youth Congress
(IYC) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI), Gandhi played a notable role
in shaping the policies and strategies of these organisations. After his appointment,
both groups saw a significant increase in membership, from 200,000 to 2.5 million.
[42]
The IYC underwent a restructuring process to make it more democratic and
inclusive.[43][44] In November 2008, Gandhi held interviews at his 12 Tughlak Lane
residence in New Delhi to handpick at least 40 people to make up the IYC's think
tank.[45] In 2009, during Gandhi's visit to West Bengal, the state unit of the Youth
Congress registered 1 million members.[46] Similarly, the IYC only acquired around 10
to 15 new members per day in each assembly segment of Uttar Pradesh. After his
visit, the number surged to 150 to 200 new members per day in the same regions.[47]

While serving as the general secretary of the NSUI, Gandhi played an active role in
strengthening the organisation and increasing student participation in politics.
[43]
Under his leadership, the NSUI initiated programs and campaigns to address
issues affecting the student community, such as the quality of education,
employment opportunities, and social justice.[48][49][50] Gandhi also advocated for greater
student representation in decision-making processes and supported student
leaders in their endeavours.[51]

General election campaigns

2009
For the 2009 Indian general election, Gandhi campaigned across India covering 22
states and 107 constituencies.[52][53] His campaigning included addressing public
rallies and meetings, interacting with voters, and highlighting the party's vision and
agenda for the country.[54] He specifically focused on issues such as rural
development, education, employment, and women's empowerment. Gandhi, also
emphasised the importance of youth participation in politics and urged them to be
more involved in shaping the country's future.[55] The nationwide elections defied the
predictions made by pre-poll predictions and exit polls and gave a clear mandate to
the incumbent, Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
[56]
While the Congress did not win a majority in the election, they emerged as the
largest party and formed a coalition government with the support of other parties.
[57]
Gandhi retained his Amethi seat by defeating his nearest rival by a margin of over
370,000 votes.[58] Gandhi was credited with the Congress revival in Uttar Pradesh
where they won 21 out of the total 80 Lok Sabha seats.[59][60]

2014
Gandhi contested the 2014 Indian general election from his constituency, Amethi,
[61]
and led the election campaign of the Indian National Congress.[62] Gandhi held the
Amethi seat by defeating his nearest rival, BJP's Smriti Irani, by a reduced margin of
107,000 votes,[60][63] but the Congress suffered its worst-ever performance at an
election and won only 44 seats, compared to the 206 seats won in 2009.[64][65] The
UPA also had its worst-ever performance in elections and won only 59 seats,
compared to the 262 seats won in 2009.[65][66][67] After the defeat, Gandhi offered to
resign his posts, only to be rejected by the party's working committee.[68]

2019
Gandhi led the 2019 election campaign of the Congress party. During campaign,
Gandhi announced "Nyay" (Nyuntam Aay Yojana— Minimum Income Gurantee)
Scheme promising Rs 6,000 each to 20 per cent poorest households to his election
speeches.[69] Gandhi also promised to fill 22 lakhs government jobs within one year
coming to power at the Centre. Gandhi used the slogan "Chowkidar Chor Hai" as a
jibe against Narendra Modi, BJP's prime ministerial candidate during his election
rallies.[70][71] The slogan was aimed at Modi about the alleged irregularities and
favouritism in awarding the contracts for the Rafale fighter jet deal.[72][73] Post election
results the INC won 52 seats, eight more than the previous election. Its vote
percentage once again fell below 20 per cent. Gandhi won the Wayanad seat with
over 60 per cent vote share.[74] He lost his existing seat of Amethi to Smriti Irani of the
BJP by a margin of 55,120 votes.[75]

National Herald case

The National Herald case revolves around allegations of financial irregularities and
misuse of funds related to the National Herald newspaper. The case garnered
attention when former BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a complaint accusing
Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and five other Congress party leaders—Motilal
Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, and Satyan Pitroda—of cheating and
misappropriating funds associated with the National Herald. The allegations by then-
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy centered on a loan given by the Congress party to
"Associated Journals Limited" (AJL), the company that owned the National Herald
newspaper.[76] Subramanian Swamy alleged that the loan, amounting to around ₹90
crore (equivalent to ₹202 crore or US$24 million in 2023), was not repaid. Instead, it
was converted into equity, effectively transferring the ownership of AJL to a new
company called "Young India Ltd" (YIL), in which Sonia Gandhi hold 76 per cent of
the company's shares, and the remaining 24 per cent are held by Congress leaders
Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes.[76] As per Swamy, YIL only paid ₹54
lakh (equivalent to ₹1.2 crore or US$150,000 in 2023) to get back ₹90 crore that
Associated AJL owed to the Congress party. He also alleged that the loan given to
AJL was illegal, as it had been taken from party funds.[76]

The case went through various legal proceedings, including hearings in lower courts
and the Delhi High Court. In December 2015, the Delhi High Court dismissed the
appeals of Sonia Gandhi and five others, ordering them to appear in person before
the trial court.[77] In 2015, the Supreme Court of India instructed Swamy to present
arguments for expediting the trial in the high court. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi
were granted bail by the trial court on 19 December 2015. Subsequently, in 2016,
the Supreme Court exempted all five accused individuals (including the Gandhis,
Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, and Suman Dubey) from personally attending court
hearings but declined to dismiss the ongoing legal proceedings against them.[76] In
December 2020, the Delhi court dismissed a petition filed by then-BJP
leader Subramanian Swamy seeking to summon Rahul and Sonia Gandhi and
others as accused in the case. The court held that there was no prima facie evidence
to suggest their involvement in any corruption conspiracy.[78] In 2014,
the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated an investigation into Swamy's complaint to
determine if there were any indications of money laundering. The investigation was
closed due to technical reasons. Nonetheless, Swamy wrote to prime
minister Narendra Modi expressing his suspicions about ED Director Ranjan Katoch.
Subsequently, in 2015, Katoch was replaced, and the case was reopened. In
December 2015, the Patiala court granted bail to the five individuals accused in the
case.[79] The Congress party objected to Swamy's complaint to the complaint,
labelling it as “vindictive politics”.[80]