New Delhi, June 26 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its state units have launched a coordinated social media meme campaign targeting Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for his frequent foreign visits.

The campaign, which gained momentum on Thursday, features satirical posters, tropical beach-themed images, and humorous jabs that have gone viral on X under the hashtag “#WhereIsRahul,” which is trending strongly.

The national BJP handle and state units from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and others have actively participated, posting creative variations of the “Go Rahul Gone” meme.

The flagship image shows Rahul Gandhi holding a banana against a scenic beach backdrop with palm trees, accompanied by the bold text “GO RAHUL GONE” in large red and white letters.

National and multiple state units used the slogan: “#WhereIsRahul? Enjoying a vacation in Thailand? Or on a secret trip planning a new propaganda campaign against India?”

The Chhattisgarh unit of the BJP posted: “Many big leaders of the Congress are in Chhattisgarh; if they know where Rahul is, they should definitely let us know,” along with a meme showing Rahul Gandhi’s poster captioned ‘Lapata Rahul’ (missing Rahul).

The BJP Gujarat unit posted a meme with the slogan, “Chandni Chowk to China, seeking renewal of secret MoU with China!”

The BJP Keralam unit posted a meme captioned “Vietnam Express” with the slogan: “Lost & Found Notice: Ex-Wayanad MP. Last seen promising undying love to Keralam, currently nowhere to be found.”

The Odisha unit posted: “Is Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, vacationing in Thailand or on some secret trip for an anti-India new propaganda campaign?” with a meme captioned “Tourist Zinda Hain.”

The Andhra Pradesh unit posted: “Intense love for one’s own country over foreign lands,” with the hashtag “WhereIsRahul” and meme caption “Rahul in Paris.”

The Madhya Pradesh unit showed Rahul Gandhi holding a passport with the slogan, “Kabhi Jeetna hai, Kabhi ghayab hona hai,” along with “Want to go abroad, but need to win the election…”

The Assam and Manipur BJP units posted: “Where is Rahul Gandhi? Is he in China, busy renewing the Congress Party’s secret MoU? India is waiting for answers.”

The Arunachal unit posted: “Whenever important questions arise, Rahul Gandhi seems to become untraceable. Is he in China again? Or is the Congress Party’s secret MoU getting another refresh?”

BJP units in Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Delhi wrote: “Rahul Baba ko Kya Pasand hai?” with a tick mark on ‘Pardesh’ and a cross mark on ‘Swadesh’.

These memes often depict Rahul Gandhi in relaxed holiday settings, questioning his priorities during parliamentary sessions or domestic issues. Some variations label him as “Ghoomandar” (wandering leader) or “Leader of Paryatan” (Tourism leader).

BJP leaders have backed the drive with allegations. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra stated that Rahul Gandhi undertook “54 foreign trips” over 22 years, visiting countries including the US, UK, Italy, Germany, and China. The party claims an estimated expenditure of around Rs 60 crore on these trips, while his declared income for a certain period stands at Rs 11 crore, raising questions about funding sources.

The campaign’s timing coincides with ongoing political activity ahead of key state elections and the larger 2029 battle. As memes circulate widely, the controversy has brought the contrast between Rahul Gandhi’s domestic responsibilities and his global outreach into the spotlight.

–IANS

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