“Rahul Gandhi never uses the word Muslim in his speeches,” a section of Congress minority leaders has said, expressing unease over what they describe as the party’s growing silence on minority-specific issues. The concern has surfaced amid changing political equations in several States.

Leaders within the party say the Congress has shifted towards broader constitutional and economic themes, avoiding direct references to Muslim identity. While this approach aims to counter polarisation, some minority leaders fear it may weaken the party’s traditional support base.

The discomfort comes at a time when Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM has made electoral gains, particularly in the Bihar Assembly polls and Maharashtra municipal corporation elections. Party insiders believe AIMIM’s rise reflects a perception among minority voters that their concerns are being articulated more openly elsewhere.

Senior Congress leaders argue that the party’s focus remains on inclusive politics, social justice, and protection of constitutional values for all communities. They maintain that avoiding identity-specific language helps prevent further communal division.

However, critics within the party say symbolic representation and direct acknowledgment also matter in electoral politics. “Rahul Gandhi never uses the word Muslim in his speeches,” they repeat, warning that silence may create political space for rivals seeking to mobilise minority voters more explicitly.