Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Rahul Gandhi Praises Amarinder Singh, Who Stays Committed to BJP
A famous Indian politician named Rahul Gandhi asked people on Instagram to ask him questions.
Someone asked him which leader from the BJP party he likes the most.
Rahul said he likes Captain Amarinder Singh.
Captain Amarinder Singh is a former chief minister of the state of Punjab.
Rahul said Amarinder is cool and knows a lot about military history.
Amarinder used to be a leader in Rahul's party, the Congress, a long time ago.
Now Amarinder works with the BJP party instead.
After hearing Rahul's words, Amarinder said thank you.
He said his family still loves Rahul and his family, but he will keep working with the BJP.
People from both parties had different opinions about Rahul's kind words.
Rahul Gandhi named Captain Amarinder Singh his favourite politician from the BJP during an 'Ask Me Anything' session he launched on Instagram on Thursday.
Gandhi said he gets along with Amarinder Singh, calling him 'cool' and 'an expert on military history.'
Amarinder Singh responded on Friday, saying his personal and family relations with Rahul and Sonia Gandhi will always remain, but he is politically committed to the BJP.
Punjab BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal said Gandhi only remembers Amarinder now while Congress faces 'severe infighting and bickerings' in its Punjab unit, calling Congress a 'sinking ship.'
Amarinder Singh quit Congress and resigned as Punjab chief minister in 2021 due to infighting, and merged his Punjab Lok Congress with the BJP after it won no seats in the 2022 Punjab assembly polls.
Congress leader Rana Gurjit Singh said Amarinder should not have left Congress and would have been a 'father figure' had he stayed.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader, and Captain Amarinder Singh, former Punjab chief minister now with the BJP
- What
- Rahul Gandhi named Amarinder Singh his favourite politician in the BJP; Amarinder said he remains politically committed to the BJP despite personal ties to the Gandhi family
- When
- Thursday, when Rahul Gandhi launched his Instagram 'Ask Me Anything' session, and Friday, when Amarinder Singh responded
- Where
- India, via a video shared on Instagram and remarks made to reporters
- Why
- Rahul Gandhi's remark came during his fresh outreach to Gen Z students; Amarinder Singh responded to clarify that personal relationships are separate from his political commitment to the BJP
Congress View
BJP View
Motive behind Rahul Gandhi's praise
Congress View
Rahul Gandhi spoke warmly of Amarinder Singh as a cool leader and military history expert; Congress leader Rana Gurjit Singh said Amarinder should not have left Congress and would have been a 'father figure' had he stayed.
BJP View
Punjab BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal said Gandhi only remembers Amarinder now because Congress faces 'severe infighting' and is a 'sinking ship,' noting Gandhi did not value Amarinder's contributions when he was removed as chief minister.
Personal ties versus political loyalty
Congress View
Amarinder Singh has said he would always help Congress leader Sonia Gandhi if she asked, although 'not politically,' suggesting lasting family bonds with the Gandhis.
BJP View
Amarinder Singh said that everywhere in the world except India, personal relationships are separate from political commitments, and stressed he remains politically committed to the BJP.
- Rahul Gandhi's compliment
- Named Capt Amarinder Singh his favourite BJP politician, calling him 'cool' and 'an expert on military history'
- Amarinder Singh's response
- Politically committed to BJP; personal and family relations with Rahul and Sonia Gandhi will always remain
- Setting
- Rahul Gandhi's 'Ask Me Anything' session on Instagram, announced via a post on X
- Personal connection
- Rajiv Gandhi was Amarinder Singh's classmate and a friend; Singh has known Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi since childhood
- Amarinder's Congress exit
- Resigned as Punjab chief minister and quit Congress in 2021 due to infighting in the party's state unit
- New party and merger
- Formed Punjab Lok Congress (PLC), which merged with the BJP after winning no seats in the 2022 Punjab assembly polls
- Family in BJP
- Wife Preneet Kaur, son Raninder Singh and daughter Jai Inder Kaur are with the BJP
- Other reactions
- Punjab BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal and Congress leader Rana Gurjit Singh both commented on the exchange