Rahul Gandhi speaking at the mega rally of farmers in Delhi. (Agence France-Presse)
Rahul Gandhi, back from a mysterious
two-month sabbatical, will speak in the Lok Sabha this evening in a debate on the agrarian crisis in the country. It will be his first speech in the present House, which was constituted last year after the May national elections.
That also means that it will be his first speech ever from the Opposition benches.
Mr Gandhi, one of only 44 Congress MPs in the lower house, was conspicuously absent in the first part of the crucial Budget session. As the session began, his party explained that the party's vice-president had taken leave of absence to "introspect."
He returned only after Parliament had adjourned for a break, after extending his leave several times.
In past sessions Mr Gandhi, a lawmaker since 2004, has not distinguished himself for stellar attendance in Parliament. Nor is he known for prolific participation in Parliament debates - his speeches in the house have been few and far between.
On Sunday
Mr Gandhi made a public address after months, seeking to focus blame and anger from rural distress at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a rally of about 70,000 farmers at Delhi's Ramlila grounds. In an aggressive 22-minute speech, Mr Gandhi attacked the PM Modi and his BJP government over its proposed changes in the law to acquire land for industrial and infrastructure projects.
The Congress leader alleges that the government's land acquisition bill is anti-farmer; his party has vowed to stall its passage in Parliament.
The
BJP has hit back, dismissing Sunday's rally as an attempt by the Congress to "re-launch" Mr Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi is widely tipped to take over from his mother Sonia Gandhi as party president soon and Sunday's rally was seen as an attempt at regaining momentum, especially after his foreign break evoked rebellious grumbling from party colleagues that he was a part-timer with dulled political instincts.
The Congress hopes Mr Gandhi will lead a reversal in fortunes after its humiliating defeat in the national elections last year and multiple state elections since.