Rahul Gandhi: India is no longer functioning as a democracy, destroyed since 2014

New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that India’s democratic framework was destroyed in 2014, arguing that the growing influence of money power and the alleged capture of institutions had fundamentally altered the country’s electoral and political landscape, weakening Opposition parties.

Addressing the valedictory session of the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad on November 14, Gandhi claimed that vast sums of money were channelled into the electoral system during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, marking the beginning of a new political order that left Opposition parties struggling to understand the changes. He said the trend had continued in subsequent elections, with the ruling party enjoying a significant financial advantage over parties committed to democratic competition.

Gandhi acknowledged that the Opposition had taken nearly a decade to understand the extent of the transformation. Recalling the period, he said Opposition parties had remained in a state of shock for almost ten years.

He attributed their declining political space to the growing role of money in elections, divisive politics and what he described as the capture of democratic institutions. He also pointed to the changing electoral landscape, contrasting the close contests and coalition governments of the past with the current political situation.

Gandhi said the Opposition had examined election results across several States to understand emerging voting patterns.

Referring to the Maharashtra Assembly elections, he alleged that the Opposition had received nearly the same number of votes in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, despite a significant difference in the final outcomes. He further claimed that nearly seven million new voters had been added to the electoral rolls in the three months before the Assembly election, alleging that all of them had voted for the BJP.

According to him, the Opposition’s analysis had identified similar trends in other States, strengthening his contention that India was no longer functioning as a democracy.

Gandhi also expressed regret to international delegates who had been invited to the Bharat Summit but were allegedly denied visas or permission to enter the country.

Apologising to the affected leaders and participants, he said their exclusion reflected the broader situation confronting India.

Expressing confidence that the political situation would eventually change, Gandhi pledged to reclaim the country from what he termed fascist forces, which he said were gaining influence across the world. He asserted that the fight against such forces would be rooted in love and non-violence and expressed confidence that democratic and progressive forces could bring about change.