BJP and Congress Clash Over Ramayan Analogies in Goa

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy compared the Bharatiya Janata Party to the demon king Ravana and the Indian National Congress to Lord Ram during a Goy Rakhonn Yatra gathering in Panaji on October 11, 2026. Representing Rahul Gandhi, Reddy expressed confidence that Congress would win the 2027 Goa Assembly elections, predicting that such a victory would eventually lead to Gandhi becoming Prime Minister.

During his speech, Reddy accused Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of failing to stop drug trafficking and selling state land. He further alleged that the BJP-led Union government is misusing the Election Commission of India to purge opposition voters from electoral rolls, calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Telangana BJP President N Ramchander Rao condemned the analogies on October 12, asserting that Congress has no right to invoke Lord Ram's name. Rao cited the party's historical legal opposition to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and described past Congress governance, including the Emergency, as a "Rakshasa Rajya" in contrast to the BJP's pursuit of "Ram Rajya."