Congress narrative against the Modi government is chiefly based on criticizing its mishandling of the economy, suppression of dissent, corruption, and one that is divisive and authoritarian eroding India’s secular and democratic fabric and foundations.

In its narrative, the Congress has been repeatedly accusing the Modi government of pursuing a Hindu nationalist agenda and of stoking communal tensions across the country, especially between Hindu majority and the Muslim minority. The party has also been alleging that Hindutva forces have also been targeting Christian community. The party manifesto released during Karnataka elections has also promised to ban ‘Bajrang Dal’ which Congress labelled as militant wing of the RSS. It provoked PM Modi, who not only raised religious slogan such as “Bajrang Bali ki jai” during his election campaigns but also referred to two films the Kerala Story and the Kashmir files implying these fictional works as facts. The state has been turned communal for several months with issues like love jihad and hijab row. However, communal narrative failed the BJP, while secular narrative of the congress won.

Apart from allegation of suppressing dissent, the Congress’s narrative also criticized the Modi government's economic policies, which it alleged to have benefited the rich at the expense of the poor. Adani was referred to as example in whose favour Modi government alleged to have changed the rules. Privatisation of the public sector and pro-corporate policies were also criticized.

Though Congress’ narrative succeed in winning Karnataka, it is very difficult to say how far their narrative is likely to succeed in the forthcoming election in five states – Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram by end of 2023, and the next general election in 2024. It is chiefly because the Modi government remains popular, and the Congress is still struggling to regain its lost support base among the people.

However, congress has been successful in touching public emotions in its favour on account of communal politics of Hindutva. Congress has accused the Modi government of stoking communal tensions, which it says have led to an increase in hate crimes and violence against minorities. The party has pointed to the government's failure to take action against Hindutva groups responsible for these incidents.

On suppressing dissent, the Congress has also accused the Modi government or resorting to it, which the party says is a threat to India's democracy. The party has pointed to the government's crackdown on critics, its use of sedition laws, and its intimidation of journalists.

On economic front, the Congress has criticized the government's economic policies, which it says is working for the rich, and not for the poor. The party has pointed to the government's failure to create jobs, its demonetization and GST policies, and its cuts to social welfare programs.

The Congress narrative against the Modi government is indeed a powerful one and was successful in Karnataka, and one is inclined to believe that the Congress’s narrative is likely to succeed. However, it would work only if the party can convince the voters, as it did in Karnataka, that Congress would provide a better plan of socio-economic development and more able leadership than PM Narendra Modi. Moreover, the party would need to show that it can overcome its own internal challenges of leadership and organizational weaknesses, including rampant infighting the party is presently plagued with.

The Congress’s way to success will have a bigger roadblock on account of Modi’s hitherto successful campaigns regarding its performance. Modi government is very good at concealing its poor performance and diverting attention of the public from the real issues facing the country to some created issues touching emotions of the majority of Hindu community. To counter this Congress will need to develop its ability to counter the Modi government’s claims and their allegation against the Congress with facts and figures in shortest possible time as occasion would arise.

Congress would need both aggressive campaigning against Modi government as the BJP and their leaders have been doing all along in the last 10 years against the Congress. Congress needs to be assertive rather than defensive on every issue raised by the BJP.

The popularity and credibility of the Congress leaders, especially Rahul Gandhi, who is seen as the main challenger to PM Modi at the national level, needs to be carefully promoted so that the BJP could not be able to sabotage them.

Apart from strengthening the Congress organisation, the party would also need to strengthen its alliances with other parties across the states, and creating as such where there is no alliance, but only if required, especially when BJP’s candidates are in the electoral battlefields. The party would need to rebuild its national narrative as alternate vision for India, more attractive than what is being propagated by PM Modi and the BJP. (IPA Service)