Rahul Gandhi’s Politics Changed, Can’t Underestimate Him, Says Smriti Irani

New Delhi: In what may seem to be a candid assessment if her arch-rival Rahul Gandhi, BJP leader and former Member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi Smriti Irani said the former’s style of politics has changed and cautioned against underestimating his line of attack. Irani spoke about the Leader of Opposition for the first time after her recent poll debacle in an interview hosted by a journalist’s podcast.

Claiming that the Congress leader believed he had “tasted success,” Irani said Gandhi was now engaging in a different style of political manoeuvring. “I feel Rahul Gandhi’s politics has changed. He thinks he has tasted. If you notice, when he speaks about caste—for the first time in his political career—he is speaking as an instrument,” she said.

Decoding Gandhi’s t-shirt politics, she said: “He wears a white T-shirt in Parliament, he’s aware of what kind of message it sends to the youth..So we shouldn’t be under the misconception about his actions – whether you find them good, bad, or childish – they are a different kind of politics,” she said.

‘Rahul switched to caste issues to gain traction’

The BJP leader also criticized the Congress’s previous attempts to apparently engage in ‘soft Hindutva,’ including Gandhi’s temple run during poll season. “Rahul Gandhi did not get any traction from his temple visits. It became the butt of jokes. Some people found it deceitful. So when this strategy did not work, they (Congress) switched to caste issues to gain traction,” she stated.

Irani also questioned the sincerity of Gandhi’s ideology. “These are not his beliefs, this is all just part of a strategy,” she stated.

She had defeated Gandhi in the 2019 elections from the Amethi seat. Since then, she has often launched attacks on Gandhi and his family. But, Gandhi has never responded to her provocations. In 2024 elections, she lost Amethi at the hands of Congress’ Kishori Lal Sharma. She was trolled on social media. But, Gandhi had come to her defence.