NEW DELHI: Elections in India are fought as much through images in public view as through ideas and manifesto promises. In the 2026 assembly elections, where Congress depends on its allies in states like Tamil Nadu, Rahul Gandhi‘s approach to coalition politics raises questions about whether the grand old party is doing enough to project unity on the ground.At the heart of this doubt lies a simple but powerful political tool: the joint rally. In a hyper-visual electoral campaign, a shared stage is not just symbolic; it is strategic. It signals cohesion to voters, clarity to cadres and credibility to an alliance. Its absence, conversely, creates space for speculation, often used by the opposition to create doubts in the minds of voters.
A visible gap in strong alliance
In Tamil Nadu, where Congress is contesting as part of a long-standing alliance with the DMK led by MK Stalin, the deficit of this alliance optics is quite visible.In previous elections, Rahul Gandhi and Stalin shared stages, projected camaraderie and reinforced the alliance through visible coordination. That visual continuity was missing this time.Despite high electoral stakes, the two leaders did not appear together in a joint rally. The absence triggered both political commentary and opposition attacks.Follow complete coverage of 2026 assembly electionsTOI resident editor Arun Ram points to this as a clear missed opportunity: “The DMK and Congress have failed in bringing together these two leaders … I think had they come together for at least one public rally, they would have sent out a strong message that the alliance is strong enough.”
The explanation from DMK circles, that aligning schedules would have disrupted Stalin’s campaign by dozens of stops, has done little to offset the perception cost.That cost becomes sharper when contrasted with the presence of Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, who recently shared the stage with Stalin during a roadshow in Chennai. For audience and voters, the optics were telling: a leader with limited electoral stakes in Tamil Nadu stepping in to signal unity, while Congress’s principal face remained absent from a joint platform.
The perception risks
The optics gap in Tamil Nadu is not unfolding in isolation. It comes against the backdrop of internal tensions within the alliance.A section of the state Congress leadership had earlier raised the issue of power-sharing, floating the idea of a coalition arrangement — something the DMK has firmly resisted. While the central leadership moved to contain these demands, the political signal had already been sent.In such a scenario, the ‘missing’ Rahul Gandhi takes on added implications. The joint rally, in this case, could have at least acted as a visual reassurance that differences, real or perceived, did not affect the alliance in the state.Arun Ram highlights this dynamic: ” .. given the background that we have seen a section of Congress leaders demanding a share in power … there was a bit of, at least rumours of a bit of a tension between Rahul Gandhi and MK Stalin.”The absence of a shared stage allowed those rumours to gain traction. Rival parties like the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the BJP were quick to amplify these perceptions, framing the alliance as strained rather than cohesive.
BJP leader K Annamalai said, “Rahul Gandhi doesn’t want to campaign with MK Stalin. He wants to do a separate campaign. MK Stalin doesn’t want to campaign with Rahul Gandhi; he wants to do a separate campaign. In previous elections, the relationship between Rahul and Stalin was framed as one of deep personal camaraderie. From gifting sweets to calling each other “elder and younger brothers,” the optics were designed to trickle down a sense of unity to the grassroots cadres.This time, however, the frame was curiously empty, as both leaders operated on parallel tracks during campaigning.
The ‘MIA’ Rahul Gandhi
What we saw in Tamil Nadu during this assembly election is not something new. Across key states, a similar pattern of limited joint campaigning was seen from the side of Rahul Gandhi.In Bihar, Congress’s alliance with the RJD led by Tejashwi Yadav has also faced questions over coordination.Tejashwi’s high-frequency campaign, often involving multiple rallies a day, was not matched by a sustained joint presence from Rahul Gandhi. In 2025 election, reports emerged of a “postponed” joint Vote Adhikar Yatra with Tejashwi, further cementing the idea that the two leaders struggled to coordinate their presence even when the stakes were existential.The alliance with the National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir has been equally fraught with optic gaps. In the run-up to the 2024 elections and the subsequent local administration shifts in the next two years, the chemistry between Omar Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi has fluctuated wildly.
The contrast within the INDIA bloc
Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal’s decision to join the 2026 assembly campaign for Stalin and Mamata has also highlighted differences in how alliance politics is being conducted within the broader opposition.Leaders like Arvind Kejriwal have adopted a more proactive approach — campaigning across states, sharing platforms with regional allies, and reinforcing a broader anti-BJP narrative even in areas where their party has limited direct stakes.
This approach has been visible not just in Tamil Nadu but also in West Bengal, where Kejriwal is expected to campaign at the invitation of Mamata Banerjee.At the ground level, alliances function through coordination between cadres of different parties. This coordination depends heavily on signals from leadership.
The cost of not being seen together
The Congress under Rahul Gandhi has succeeded in building alliances that are, on paper, both strategic and necessary. But elections are not fought on paper alone.They are fought on stages, in images, and through moments that signal unity to voters and confidence to cadres.A single joint rally in Tamil Nadu could have strengthened the perception of a cohesive alliance.Instead, their absence has created a recurring question: Is the alliance as unified on the ground as it is on paper?Tamil Nadu already voted in a single phase on Thursday, registering over 84% turnout and breaking all previous records. On May 4, when the results are announced, the effectiveness of the Congress-DMK alliance will ultimately be judged not just by optics, but by electoral outcomes on the ground.Whether the perceived gaps in coordination between Rahul Gandhi and MK Stalin translate into votes remains to be seen.
