The role of the Sleeper Cells in making the Duo Narendra Modi and Amit Shah rule India in the way they like has created havoc in the Congress Party. Narendra Modi has been the infiltrator of the culture of ‘sleeper cells’ in Congress from the one that he entered the politics of Gujarat in 1988. Amit Shah had already been working in Gujarat before his entry in 1983. The duo Narendra Modi and Amit Shah’s first task was to cleanse the Congress from Gujarat. They vowed to eliminate the Congress Party from the rural areas of Gujarat. They searched the second-most influential leaders of the Congress Party in every village and brainwashed them to embrace the BJP.
Modi and Shah had the same bio-chemistry to decipher Congress to get hold over the Co-operatives bodies in the State. In 1999, Shah was installed the President of the Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank. The next target of the duo was to decimate the Congress from the sports bodies in the state. Shah became the President of the Gujarat State Chess Association. In 2009, he was the Vice-President of the Gujarat Cricket Association, while Modi was as its President. When Narendra Modi was State BJP General Secretary, he succeeded to anoint Shah as the Chairman of the Gujarat State Financial Corporation. In 1997, with Modi’s efforts Amit Shah got a BJP ticket for the Gujarat Legislative Assembly by-election in Sarkhej. Shah won and became an MLA.
In 2001, Narendra Modi became the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Since then, it was a nightmare to their political opponents. Shah’s steep rise was un stoppable since then. He won all the elections that he had contested. Under Narendra Modi, Shah was adorned with a number of Ministries from Home, Law and Justice, Prison, Border Security, Civil Defence, Excise, Transport, Prohibition, Home Guards, Gram Rakshak Dal, Police Housing and Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs etc.
As State Home Minister Shah introduced the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (Amendment) Bill in the Gujarat State Assembly. Shah made a pivotal role to pass the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Bill, against religious conversions in the state of Gujarat. Therefore, the concept of the “sleeper cell” was their brain-child.
The concept of sleeper cells and its application by the Duo
The concept of “sleeper cells” in a political context typically refers to individuals or groups covertly working within an organization to influence or undermine it. Thus, certain elements, potentially aligned with the BJP and RSS ideologies, infiltrated or subtly placed in the Congress Party, on their pay rolls to get a leverage and to know the weaknesses, and the strategies of the Congress to redraw their plans to erode the Congress Party’s standing.
The concept of the ‘sleeper cells’ were vigorously put to use when the duo was shifted to the BJP headquarters in Delhi. To strengthen the instruments of the sleeper cells, the duo, deliberately started in migration of the disgruntled Congress leaders either with lucrative offers or with the use of investigation agencies like, CBI, ED, Income Tax or threatening them with re-opening their existing cases.
Over the past decade, the Congress Party had faced significant internal dissent, with numerous senior leaders leaving the party. It could be seen as the result of external influences exploiting internal vulnerabilities. Jyotiraditya Scindia was a prominent Congress leader, defected to the BJP in 2020, resulting in the fall of the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh. His departure had not only weakened Congress but also exposed factionalism; Ghulam Nabi Azad, a veteran leader left the party in 2022 criticizing the leadership and decision-making processes due to the influences the sleeper- cells of the Duo.
Over the years allegations were made against senior Congress party functionaries like K.C. Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Kumari Selja, Bhupender Singh Hooda, Deepender Singh Hooda, Akhilesh Pratap Singh in Bihar, Kamal Nath in Madhya Pradesh etc. Prof. Yogendra Yadav was detached from the Congress organisation, though he was not an active functionary in the Congress Party. In Maharashtra 60 office bearers were shown a way-out for their proximity with BJP and RSS; and not participating in the Nagpur Congress gathering. There have been more such elements in the states that needed to be thrown out which might happen in near future.
The role of the Sleeper Cells in making the Duo Narendra Modi and Amit Shah rule India in the way they like – The rise and fall of Congress over the influences of the sleeper-cells
The Congress Party’s decline over the last decade though not entirely attributed to “sleeper cells”. However, it could be the BJP’s systematic strategies, combined with the RSS’s long-term groundwork in shaping cultural and political discourse. These have significantly contributed to the Congress’s weaknesses, defections, and leadership struggles within Congress. The BJP could make it possible to capitalize on the party’s decline. The BJP and RSS have effectively used these dynamics to their advantage by the use of internal infiltration or opportunistic exploitation.
The electoral defeats of the Congress Party in states like Bihar (2020), Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan (2023), Haryana, Maharashtra (2024), and the general elections in 2024 were, not only to the phenomena of the sleeper-cells, but also due to internal weaknesses, strategic failures, and external influence. While the notion of “sleeper cells” aligned with the with ideology the Duo, these outcomes might seem plausible to some extent, but direct evidence for such infiltration is hard to substantiate since it is invisible.
However, it was argued that poor election management and a lack of grassroots presence have been worsened by individuals within the Congress who might indirectly benefit from the BJP’s dominance. Despite Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s entry into active politics, Congress performed poorly in 2019 General Elections. Some leaders were accused of not working sincerely to support candidates, leading to internal strife. Critics have pointed to the organizational weaknesses and lack of a clear roadmap within the Congress, which might have been accelerated by leaders allegedly influenced by external forces.
Some Congress leaders have been accused of endorsing soft Hindutva to counter the BJP’s dominance, leading to ideological confusion among voters. Leaders like Kamal Nath and others have made overt religious gestures, such as temple visits, to appeal to Hindu voters. This strategy arguably dilutes the Congress’s secular identity, making it appear as a weaker alternative to the BJP. The RSS’s long-term cultural campaigns have shifted public discourse, making it challenging for the Congress to reclaim its pluralistic narrative.
The Congress performed poorly in the Bihar assembly elections, where it contested 70 seats and got 19, a strike rate of 27% as part of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) with the RJD and Left parties. Congress fielded weak candidates in several constituencies, and its campaign lacked aggression compared to the BJP-JD(U) alliance. Some observers argued that poor organization and candidate selection might have been influenced by internal sabotage or mismanagement. The BJP effectively used Hindutva and welfare narratives, while Congress failed to counter them with a cohesive message.
Chhattisgarh was considered a Congress stronghold, but the party faced a significant setback in the 2023 elections. Factionalism between Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and T.S. Singh Deo weakened the party’s image. Several Congress leaders allegedly worked against official candidates, benefiting the BJP. The BJP heavily invested in targeting rural voters through welfare schemes and narratives around corruption in the Congress government.
In Madhya Pradesh, Congress’s failure to reclaim the state highlighted internal weaknesses. Jyotiraditya Scindia’s departure in 2020 and the fall of the Congress government set the stage for BJP dominance. Despite public dissatisfaction with the BJP government, Congress failed to mobilize its base effectively. Some Congress insiders were accused of undermining the party during candidate selection and campaigning, possibly benefiting the BJP. The over- confidence of Kamal Nath and his soft corner approach, in addition to the management of the Election Commission led to dismal performance. The Congress could manage 67, whereas the BJP mustered 163 to form the government.
Rajasthan witnessed a BJP victory, attributed to both internal and internal factors. The feud between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot demoralized workers and confused voters. The BJP capitalized on anti-incumbency, however, the support of the Election Commission was visible. Accusations emerged that some Congress leaders worked covertly to harm the party’s chances. The Congress got 50 seats and the BJP a whopping figure of 147.
The Congress faced a crushing defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, largely due to its inability to counter the BJP’s dominance in some of the states like Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, where the BJP routed the Congress. Congress struggled to present itself as the cohesive force against the BJP. Congress failed to address its perception as an out-of-touch party, despite Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and massive rallies. Some candidates performed dismally, leading to allegations of sabotage or lack of commitment.
In Haryana the BJP maintained its dominance, due to the influence of the Election Commission. Despite opposition discontent, the BJP consolidated rural and urban votes. Kumari Selja, the Hooda family, Randeep Singh Surjewala were at logger-heads, while the BJP played a spoilsport to annex Haryana. The party struggled with factionalism, with no cohesive leadership to challenge the BJP.
In Maharashtra the BJP used the split in the Shiv Sena to its advantage, dividing the opposition vote. The party failed to mobilize voters effectively, leading to another electoral disaster, of course the Election Commission devastated the opposition.
The role of the Sleeper Cells in making the Duo Narendra Modi and Amit Shah rule India in the way they like – Purging is the need of the hour in the Congress Party
The Congress Party has faced significant internal dissent and factionalism in recent years. Removing elements that foster division can help. Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi have been making efforts to strengthen the party’s grassroots network by rebuilding trust among the party workers and supporters and creating a unified leadership structure capable of effective decision-making.
The purging of those who exhibit disloyalty or sabotage can protect the party from unexpected electoral setbacks and ensure that leaders and workers are committed to the party’s ideology and objectives. Frequent defections, infighting, and weak leadership have eroded public trust in the Congress Party. A visible effort to clean the Congress in-house can lead to a fresh start with a focus on integrity and accountability and enhance commitment to standing firm against external influences.
It is essential to purge sleeper cells by establish internal accountability mechanisms by creating committees to investigate allegations of disloyalty, under-performance, or sabotage and by introducing performance-based evaluations for party members, especially those in leadership positions. It is prudent to conduct regular training and orientation programmes to reinforce Congress’s core values and ideology and weed out individuals whose actions or rhetoric align more closely with rival ideologies. Factionalism should be uprooted by encourage dialogue among warring factions to resolve disputes internally and by imposing strict discipline on those who prioritize personal ambitions over party interests.
The selection of candidate selection based on the concept of caste analysis will help to accommodate a cross section of society, including the women to align with the Congress party. It would be ideal to use grassroots-level surveys and consultations to select candidates, minimizing the influence of factional leaders. Nepotism and favouritism, which can alienate committed party workers should be eradicated permanently. The purging of the Party would benefit in revitalisation that could lead to electoral gains by creating a good public perception of the people.
The role of the Sleeper Cells in making the Duo Narendra Modi and Amit Shah rule India the way they like – A conspiracy to attack Rahul Gandhi through the defectors of Congress
The duo Amit Shah and Narendra Modi had hatched a conspiracy to attack and discredit Rahul Gandhi through the erstwhile leaders who had defected to the BJP like Shehzad Poonawala, Gaurav Ballabh, Himanta Biswa Sharma etc.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Assam Police has filed multiple cases against Rahul Gandhi. On January 19, 2025, an FIR was registered against Rahul Gandhi in Guwahati over his remark about fighting against the ‘Indian state.’ The complaint alleged that his statement incited subversive activities and posed a threat to national security. On January 23, 2024, during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, an FIR was filed against Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders, including KC Venugopal and Kanhaiya Kumar, for alleged acts of violence, damage to public property, and assault on police personnel. The charges were registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Damage.
In August 2023, Assam Police arrested Pawan Khera, a prominent Congress spokesperson, for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was detained at Delhi airport and later granted interim bail by the Supreme Court.
Hemanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam is being used as a tool by the duo to attack the minorities and to file cases on the Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders so that the Duo might escape from any future legal hurdles by throwing the blame on these leaders.
The role of the Sleeper Cells in making of the Duo Narendra Modi and Amit Shah to rule India in the way they like – The Conclusion
The well placed and paid sleeper cells have created a havoc in rank and file of the Congress over the years. Purging sleeper cell elements is not merely about removing individuals but about fostering a culture of loyalty, accountability, and ideological clarity within the Congress Party. By addressing these internal issues, the party can rebuild itself as a strong and cohesive force capable of effectively challenging its political opponents. Without such efforts, the Congress will continue to face electoral decline and irrelevance in the face of an increasingly dominant force in hands of the Duo.
Himanta Biswa Sarma’s role as the Chief Minister of Assom extends beyond administrative duties; he functions as a strategic tool of the Duo. His controversial actions and statements align with the party’s larger political goals, whether it’s marginalizing minorities or targeting the opposition. By channelling such activities through regional leaders like Sarma, the Duo not only achieved its objectives but also minimized direct accountability.