Political Poster Wars: BJP Claims ‘New Age Ravan’ on Rahul Gandhi’s Portrait

In the realm of Indian politics, the battleground often extends beyond just rallies and speeches. 

The latest episode in this ongoing political saga involves a poster created by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) depicting Congress MP Rahul Gandhi as the mythological figure Ravan. 

This creative portrayal has sparked a heated war of words between the two rival parties, inviting both criticism and condemnation.

BJP’s Film Poster-like Creative

On the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the BJP shared a film poster-style image featuring Rahul Gandhi’s face superimposed on the character of Ravan. 

The poster includes the caption “Ravan, a Congress party production, directed by George Soros.” 

The reference to George Soros, a Hungarian-American businessman and philanthropist known for his substantial donations to various groups worldwide, is often used by the BJP to accuse the Congress party of foreign interference in Indian affairs.

In the creative, Rahul Gandhi is depicted with multiple heads, donning a body armor reminiscent of Ravan.

The BJP’s post on X declares, “The new age Ravan is here. He is Evil. Anti Dharma. Anti Ram. His aim is to destroy Bharat.”

The BJP’s poster came in retaliation to a poster shared a day earlier by the Congress with a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi captioned “The Biggest Liar” and another a mock movie poster depicting PM Modi and Home Minister Amit with the caption “Jumla Boy” Going to hit the election rally soon”.

Congress Party’s Condemnation and Accusations

Jairam Ramesh, a prominent leader of the Congress party, took to X to question the BJP regarding the poster. 

Ramesh alleged that the intent behind the post was to “incite and provoke violence” against Rahul Gandhi. 

Joining him in condemning the BJP’s actions, party leader KC Venugopal expressed his outrage on X, stating, “No words are enough to condemn the shameful graphic on the BJP handle comparing Rahul Gandhi ji to Ravana.”

Venugopal further criticized the ruling party, highlighting Rahul Gandhi’s vulnerability and the BJP’s actions targeting him. 

“They withdrew his SPG protection to score petty political points. After evicting him from his secure residence, they haven’t allocated another house that he has requested. All this points to a well-planned conspiracy of the BJP to eliminate their fiercest critic, someone who attacks the very core of their hate-filled ideology,” Venugopal stated on X.

Poster Wars Ahead of Assembly Elections

The poster wars are likely to intensify in the coming weeks as Rajasthan and several other states prepare for assembly elections. 

With political parties vying for power, these visuals and messaging strategies have become an integral part of their campaigns. The use of provocative posters and images aims to influence public perception and sway undecided voters.

The poster depicting Rahul Gandhi as a “new age Ravan” has ignited a fiery exchange of words between the BJP and Congress. 

While the BJP argues that the poster is a creative critique of Gandhi’s persona and political ideologies, Congress leaders view it as a dangerous incitement of violence. 

As the poster wars rage on in the lead-up to crucial assembly elections, it remains to be seen how they will impact political discourse and the outcomes of these elections.