New Delhi: A viral video captured a brief, friendly interaction at the Parliament complex where BJP MP Raghav Chadha smiled and greeted Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. This casual exchange drew wide public attention on social media, with people terming the moment “absolute cinema.”
In India, civility in politics is so rare that a simple, non-malicious greeting between two political rivals surprised people online. The reactions demonstrated how social media users process significant realignments in Indian governance.
“This is totally giving off those ‘Backbencher vs Frontbencher’ vibes. The way Rahul Gandhi, standing on the Parliament stairs, greeted Raghav Chadha with a ‘hello’ as he approached from the front…Getting the game of gestures, right?” an account named Ajay Pratap Singh Ruhani posted on X.
Another X user, named Amit, posted a popcorn emoji and called the moment “literally cinematic”, analysing the optics and body language of the encounter.
“Rahul Gandhi was standing alone near the Parliament entrance. He was looking at his mobile. Just then, Raghav Chadha, while climbing the stairs, was looking at Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi smiled and said, Hello. Finally, do take a close look at the smile on Rahul Gandhi’s face once,” he had posted.
Both users stressed Rahul’s aura. However, things quickly turned political when a debate on whose “aura was superior” erupted on social media. While Rahul’s fans argued about his fearless style and experience on Indian politics, Chadha’s supporters talked about his modern style and poised confidence having a superior charm.
“If Rahul Gandhi had the aura, Raghav Chadha would have been the one to offer wishes. It is actually Raghav Chadha who possesses the aura—so much so that Rahul Gandhi put his phone aside to offer him wishes,” an X user Arshit Pathak commented.
Amid intense legislative sessions and heated debates, this momentary cross-party civility has been dissected and discussed on the internet.
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‘AAP is corrupt’
The online discussion comes on the heels of Chadha shifting from being a prominent face of the opposition to joining the ruling coalition on 24 April. Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Swati Maliwal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, and Vikram Sahney also defected along with Chadha.
“The AAP that I gave 15 years of my life. Now the party has stepped away from the honest politics. I am the right man in the wrong party. I am moving away from the party and going close to people. Today, the AAP is corrupt and compromised,” Chadha, 37, had said after quitting AAP.
“I was the founding member of this party. We, with full commitment established the party in Punjab, Delhi and other parts. Today, AAP is corrupt and compromised. The AAP is not the old party. I don’t want to engage in the wrongdoings of AAP,” he added.