Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks equating the RSS and the CPI(M) sparked unease within the INDIA bloc, with Left leaders raising the issue during the alliance’s virtual meeting on Saturday, according to sources.

The comments, made by Gandhi at an event in Kerala, were flagged as inappropriate and potentially divisive by leaders of the Left parties, who warned that such statements could send the wrong message to cadres on the ground.

Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said during a speech in Kottayam on Friday that he fights both the RSS and the CPI(M) ideologically, but his main complaint against them is their lack of “feelings” for the people.

“I fight them in the realm of ideas and in the realm of speech. But, my biggest complaint is that they do not have feelings for the people,” he said while addressing a memorial meeting to mark the second death anniversary of former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

“If you are in politics, feel what people are thinking, listen to them, and touch them. The real tragedy in Indian politics today is that very few people are actually feeling what others are feeling,” he added.

Sources said CPI leader D Raja raised the issue during the INDIA bloc’s online meeting, without directly naming Rahul Gandhi. He is learnt to have said that such remarks, equating the Left with the RSS, should be avoided as they create confusion among cadres and can damage the unity of the alliance.

Another leader present reportedly pointed out that when the INDIA bloc began its journey, the common slogan was ‘Desh Bachaao, BJP Hataao’, and that no one should make statements that foster conflict within the bloc or draw comparisons between the Left and the RSS.

CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby had strongly criticised Gandhi’s comments earlier, calling them “unfortunate” and a reflection of a lack of understanding of the political realities in Kerala and India.

In a scathing video message posted on X on Friday, a day before the INDIA bloc meeting, Baby said, “The very fact that he in a way equated the CPI(M) and RSS betrays the absence of a correct understanding of the role of CPI(M) and RSS in Kerala or India.”

He reminded Gandhi that the Congress government in 2004 could not have been formed without the support of the Left. “Rahul Gandhi only needs to recall how Mr Manmohan Singh could not have formed a government in 2004 without the support of CPI(M) and other Left parties. Congress did not command a majority in Lok Sabha after the 2004 election,” he said.

Taking a jibe at Gandhi’s political record, he said, “Rahul Gandhi represented Wayanad, where he did not have to fight the RSS or BJP but a CPI candidate. I hope and wish that he would be more serious while speaking against CPI(M).”

Gandhi had contested against CPI candidate Annie Raja in Wayanad and later vacated the seat after winning from Rae Bareli, which was then won by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the bypoll.

Baby further said, “We will make independent criticisms, but we will never equate the Congress with the BJP or RSS.” He stressed that while the CPI(M) has often criticised the Congress on economic issues, it has done so in a “friendly manner”.

He added, “So, it was quite unfortunate that, in a very casual and sweeping manner, Mr. Rahul Gandhi put CPI(M) and RSS together as his ideological enemies. People can reflect upon it.”

He also questioned Gandhi’s awareness of his own party’s historical role in combating the RSS in Kerala. “I do not know whether Mr Rahul Gandhi knows what the record of the Congress in Kerala in fighting the RSS,” Baby said.

Both the Congress and CPI(M) are part of the INDIA bloc, an alliance of opposition parties formed to challenge the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. However, in Kerala, the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front and Congress-led United Democratic Front remain direct political opponents, with the BJP trying to expand its presence in the state.

Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc meeting also saw parties resolve to raise several issues during the upcoming Parliament Monsoon Session, including the Pahalgam attack and the alleged threat to voting rights in Bihar due to a special revision of electoral rolls. The bloc is also planning a protest march to Jantar Mantar on July 23-24 over the voter list revision issue, with details of the plan currently being finalised.

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