CM Mohan Yadav Criticizes Rahul Gandhi's Political Acumen

In an interview, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav criticized former Congress president Rahul Gandhi for lacking political experience and courage. Yadav argued that Gandhi's leadership has led to repeated electoral failures and mocked his aspiration to become prime minister, calling it 'daydreaming'.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said former Congress president Rahul Gandhi lacks political experience and is not even worth a ''matchstick'' in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In an interview to PTI on Tuesday night, Yadav slammed Gandhi and RJD chief Lalu Prasad over their claims that the Modi government would be ousted after the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, and said there was no bigger joke than this.

He also said Gandhi was dreaming of becoming prime minister but lacked the courage to contest from their stronghold Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.

Asked if the Wayanad MP, like his grandmother Indira Gandhi, should have gained some experience of governance, Yadav said, ''He neither had the experience of a minister nor party president (before he held the post) and not even politics. The way he talks...even the opposition should have some level, especially before a personality (referring to Modi). He (Gandhi) is not even a lamp before the sun.'' ''His (Gandhi's) strength is not even worth a matchbox stick but he wants to show himself as light of the sun...so it is like daydreaming and no one can stop him from doing so,'' Yadav said.

The BJP leader said Rahul Gandhi was proved wrong twice, apparently referring to Congress' debacle in the 2014 and 2019 polls.

''On the contrary, Modiji said before 2014 that he will form government with absolute majority as people are blessing him and it happened,'' he said.

It was for the first time in 60 years that a non-Congress majority government came to power in the country, he said.

''Second time also, the BJP leadership set the target of 300 (seats) and it happened. This time, the target is 400 and it is already visible as only one phase (of general election) is left now,'' Yadav said.

He said PM Modi is putting things before people with humility.

''People are watching them (opposition). Now even leaders from Pakistan are supporting them. I myself and Modiji have not taken the name of Pakistan even once during several interviews, but see their (opposition's) seriousness,'' he said.

People of the country want to make ''an India of 21st century''. They want to take the nation forward and it is not possible for them (opposition) to do it, he said.

Further targeting Rahul Gandhi, Yadav said, ''The kind of low-level language he is using against Modiji, people of the country have already given him a befitting reply in six phases and the same will be reflected in the last phase also on June 1.'' On Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Prasad claiming the BJP-led government will be ousted on June 4, the vote counting day, Yadav said, ''I don't consider a bigger joke than this. Just see who is saying this. You mentioned Rahul Gandhi...before 2014, they were in power with more than 235 MPs of their own. But under his leadership it was reduced to 115, which was an impossible thing at that time.'' They used terms like ''Maut ka Saudagar'' for Modi, but people defeated their government and their seats were reduced to 115, he said.

In 2019, they used filthier language and were reduced to the ''size of a 52-seater bus'' from 115, Yadav remarked.

The CM also said Rahul Gandhi ''ran away'' from Amethi (Lok Sabha contest) in 2024.

''You have your own two seats- Amethi and Rae Bareli. You are dreaming of becoming prime minister, but you don't have courage. Your mother (Sonia Gandhi) also lacked the courage to contest. First, you declined to contest (from Amethi) and later, your mother also refused to fight (from Rae Bareli),'' he said.

''So what message are you giving to your partymen?'' Yadav asked.

Rae Bareli was won by Congress, he noted, adding that Gandhi has now ''run away'' from Wayanad and is coming back (to contest from Rae Bareli instead of Amethi).

''Neither you are contesting from Amethi, nor you are able to field your sister (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra) from there. Instead, you are contesting from Rae Bareli, which means they are very much afraid from inside and they are not saying but it is their fear which is coming out (in their speeches),'' he said.

Targeting Lalu Prasad, the CM said the RJD chief is unable to talk about any other (state) and in Bihar also, he is unable to contest a single seat because of his track record.

Asked if he considers Rahul Gandhi a mature leader, Yadav said ''Not just me but the entire country doesn't consider him (mature). How can a person rectify mistakes of former PMs like Indira, Nehru, his mother and father (Rajiv Gandhi).'' During an election rally in Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi was recently asked when is he getting married? Soon, he assured.

Yadav said, ''He (Rahul) is lying that he will get married soon. He is already 55, when he will get married is not known. But why is he lying and why doesn't he say it's not possible to get married and he will do so in his next birth. Why doesn't he want to say this?'' ''Still if he marries, my best wishes are with him, but for marriage also there is an age bar. But it is his personal matter and I shouldn't meddle in it,'' he added.