Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, added an unusual twist to his Bihar campaign trail on Sunday when he joined local fishermen in a pond in Begusarai, participating in a traditional fishing exercise. The move, widely seen as an effort to connect with grassroots communities and highlight his party’s message of inclusivity, quickly went viral after a video of the incident surfaced online.

The video showed Gandhi clad in his signature white t-shirt and black trousers—his now-familiar campaign attire—standing ankle-deep in muddy water, pulling a large blue fishing net alongside local fishermen. As he worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the villagers, chants of “Rahul Gandhi zindabad” echoed around the pond. His easy manner and readiness to get his hands dirty drew applause and laughter from the crowd, many of whom took photos and videos on their phones.

The Congress leader’s unusual campaign moment was not spontaneous—he was joined by several leaders of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), including Mukesh Sahani, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief and the alliance’s deputy chief ministerial face. Sahani, a prominent figure from Bihar’s Nishad (fishing) community, has often championed issues related to fishermen and marginalised castes. His presence beside Gandhi was both symbolic and strategic, aiming to reinforce the INDIA bloc’s focus on caste equity and economic justice.

Also present was Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar, a native of Begusarai and a key face of the party’s youth wing. Kanhaiya—once a student leader from Jawaharlal Nehru University—added a local touch to the event, often seen smiling and interacting with villagers. He too jumped into the pond, helping Rahul Gandhi pull the net as both men laughed when the first few fish wriggled free. The camaraderie between Gandhi and Kanhaiya was evident, underscoring Congress’s attempt to project a youthful, energetic, and people-centric image.

Political analysts viewed the fishing event as more than a photo opportunity. Bihar’s Begusarai district, known for its agrarian and working-class demographic, has long been a political battleground where caste and class issues intersect. By joining the fishermen, Gandhi signalled solidarity with economically backward communities and sought to undercut the BJP’s narrative of elitism. The symbolism of sharing the physical labour of a traditional livelihood fit neatly within the Congress’s campaign message of “Bharat Jodo” (uniting India) through empathy and inclusion.

The Bihar assembly elections, scheduled in two phases on November 6 and 11, have seen increasingly personal and performative campaigning from all major parties. With results set to be announced on November 14, Rahul Gandhi’s Begusarai visit came at a critical juncture for the INDIA bloc’s outreach in northern and central Bihar, where the alliance faces stiff competition from the NDA. His participation in a local practice, captured vividly on camera, appeared to resonate with the electorate—particularly the Nishad community, which has been a significant electoral factor in several constituencies.

Later the same day, Rahul Gandhi addressed a public rally where he pivoted sharply from symbolism to substance, unleashing a pointed attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his address, Gandhi accused Modi of being “remote-controlled by big business” and “scared of foreign powers,” claiming that the Prime Minister lacked the courage and independence expected of a national leader. “Having a huge chest does not make you strong,” Gandhi said, invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s example as a counterpoint. “Just look at Mahatma Gandhi, who had a frail build but took on the British, who were the superpower of the time.”

Taking aim at Modi’s oft-repeated “56-inch chest” remark, Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister “got a panic attack when Trump called him during Operation Sindoor,” referring to the recent military confrontation with Pakistan. He claimed that the operation was halted under external pressure. “He is not just scared of Trump,” Gandhi alleged, “but is also being remote-controlled by Ambani and Adani.” His statement drew cheers from supporters and sharp criticism from BJP leaders, who accused him of undermining India’s national security narrative for political gain.

Rahul Gandhi also invoked historical precedent, comparing Modi’s alleged deference to the U.S. with former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s defiance during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. “In 1971, when the U.S. threatened India, Indira Gandhi did not get scared. She did what needed to be done,” he said. “But when Trump told Modi to stop Operation Sindoor, he halted it.” While the BJP dismissed these remarks as baseless, Gandhi’s narrative aimed to draw a contrast between his grandmother’s perceived resolve and Modi’s alleged subservience.

Broadening his critique, Gandhi accused the Modi government of enacting policies that disproportionately favoured large corporations at the expense of small traders and working-class citizens. “All the major decisions of this government—from demonetisation to GST—were aimed at destroying small businesses and benefiting the big ones,” he said. His rhetoric tied neatly into the Congress’s broader economic message, which seeks to portray the BJP as a party of billionaires and the Congress as a defender of the common man.

The “remote control” accusation also revived an old Congress refrain about crony capitalism, with Gandhi positioning himself as the voice of resistance against corporate-political collusion. “Every time Modi talks about nationalism, he hides behind Ambani and Adani,” he said. “But nationalism is not about serving the rich; it is about serving the people.”

In Bihar’s local context, Gandhi’s twin gestures—his symbolic participation in fishing and his fiery rhetoric against corporate influence—were calculated to connect both emotionally and ideologically with the electorate. His foray into the pond showcased humility and grassroots engagement, while his speech sought to project him as a fearless critic of economic inequality and foreign appeasement.

For the Mahagathbandhan, Gandhi’s campaign stop in Begusarai had multiple layers of significance. It helped energize the Congress cadre in a state where the party has historically played a junior role to allies like RJD. It also allowed the alliance to spotlight its deputy CM candidate Mukesh Sahani, a crucial face for the Nishad vote bank, which could prove decisive in several constituencies. Moreover, it tied into Tejashwi Yadav’s larger narrative of job creation and dignity for workers—a message the INDIA bloc hopes will resonate across Bihar’s youth-dominated electorate.

As Gandhi wrapped up his Begusarai visit, images of him drenched from fishing circulated widely across social media platforms. Supporters hailed the scene as a “people’s leader” moment, while detractors dismissed it as performative politics. Regardless, the day’s optics underscored a key feature of the 2025 Bihar election campaign: a shift toward symbolism, spectacle, and direct engagement with local identities.

In a campaign season marked by Amit Shah’s mythological metaphors, Priyanka Gandhi’s emotional invocations of Gandhi and Ganga, and Tejashwi Yadav’s populist promises, Rahul Gandhi’s jump into a muddy pond might seem unconventional. Yet, in the theatre of Bihar’s democracy, where every gesture carries meaning, his act encapsulated both a statement of empathy and a strategy of connection—a reminder that, in Indian politics, symbolism often speaks louder than slogans.