1 hour ago
Last Updated:February 02, 2026, 12:51 IST
BJP MLA Suresh Kumar accuses Congress of using Mahatma Gandhi’s name for politics amid outrage over renaming MGNREGA to VB-G RAM G Act, 2025.
The exchange has further sharpened the political confrontation between the two parties. (Representational Image)
Amid the political storm over the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the rural employment guarantee scheme, BJP MLA Suresh Kumar on Monday countered the Congress by accusing it of selectively invoking Gandhi for political gain.
Kumar claimed that Gandhi’s name had earlier been removed from a ward in Bengaluru and replaced with that of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
“Gandhi Nagar ward name was changed to Nehru Nagar. This shows the Congress’s conditional love towards Mahatma Gandhi. They use his name only for political gains," the BJP MLA said.
His remarks come as the Congress continues to protest against the Centre over the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, alleging that the government has diluted the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by renaming the scheme. The opposition party has accused the BJP-led NDA government of attempting to undermine the spirit of the landmark rural employment programme by removing Gandhi’s name from the scheme.
The BJP, however, has rejected the allegations, maintaining that the scheme’s objectives remain unchanged and accusing the Congress of misleading the public. The exchange has further sharpened the political confrontation between the two parties, with both sides trading barbs over respect for Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy.
The Centre recently enacted the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, replacing the Congress-era MGNREGA. The move drew sharp criticism from opposition parties, which alleged that the NDA government was “allergic" to the name of Mahatma Gandhi. The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, represents a comprehensive statutory overhaul of MGNREGA, aligning rural employment with the long-term vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, while strengthening accountability, infrastructure outcomes, and income security.
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First Published:
February 02, 2026, 12:51 IST
News politics 'Conditional Love': BJP Accuses Congress Of Renaming Ward Named After Gandhi As Nehru Nagar
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