Congress leader Rahul Gandhi commenced his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, a two-month political journey from Manipur to Mumbai, focusing on social, economic, and political justice. In contrast to the first phase, where Gandhi walked from Kanyakumari to Srinagar, this leg of the journey will largely involve travel by wheels. The party emphasizes that the roadshow, although preceding the general elections, is political and not an electoral rally. The journey aims to address the concerns of the people and unveil Gandhi's plan for justice.

Despite the upcoming general elections, the Congress party insists that the roadshow is not an "electoral rally" but a political initiative. This assertion parallels the contention that the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22 is not a politically motivated event. The Congress leaders' rejection of the invitation to the ceremony is viewed as a response to the perceived political nature of the event, orchestrated by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

During the reigns of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, the Congress party navigated the mosque-temple issue ambivalently, while the Sangh Parivar established a dominant Hindu nationalist narrative. The demolition of the Babri mosque in 1992 and economic liberalization in 1991 gave rise to competing political narratives—economic development and religious nationalism.

The Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the first Sangh Parivar organization to focus on national economic policy, emerged in response to economic liberalization. The Congress initially dominated the economic development narrative, but the BJP briefly seized it with business-friendly policies. However, the Congress, under Manmohan Singh, swung towards welfarism, alienating businesses and the rising middle class.

Narendra Modi demonstrated the effective merger of Hindutva with business success during his tenure as Gujarat's leader. The consecration of the Ram Temple represents the culmination of this strategy, with business leaders and celebrities expected to attend. While the Parivar controls narratives of economic growth and a muscular Hindu nation, widespread economic prosperity remains a work in progress.

A recent Goldman Sachs report, "The Rise of Affluent India," highlights that only about 4% of working-age Indians earn an annual income of $10,000 or more. Despite the symbolic importance of the temple, it doesn't directly contribute to the economic well-being of the majority. Rahul Gandhi positions himself as the champion of the majority during his yatra, emphasizing the Congress's commitment to addressing economic development issues. As of now, the Congress has not presented viable ideas to counter the BJP's narrative on economic development.