An Indian Supreme Court decision could reshuffle the cards in the race for India's spring 2024 general elections. On Friday, August 4, the nation's highest court suspended the sentence handed down to Rahul Gandhi, the main opposition leader, in a defamation case against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At an election rally in 2019, the Indian National Congress party leader had mocked Modi's surname, for which he was sentenced to two years imprisonment in March by a court in Gujarat, the prime minister's former stronghold. The clearly political sanction led to his expulsion from Parliament and made him ineligible for six years.

Gandhi, a fierce critic of the prime minister, should once again be able to take his seat in the lower house. The Indian National Congress party will be petitioning Parliament to reinstate him as soon as possible. In its judgment, the Supreme Court argued that Gandhi's conviction was "seriously prejudicial to freedom of speech" and also infringed on the "rights of those who voted for him." In power since 2014, the Hindu nationalist government has regularly been accused of using the justice system to muzzle critics.

"I'm returning... the questions will continue," warned a message from the Indian National Congress party on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by a photo of Gandhi. Prior to his conviction, the heir to the illustrious Nehru-Gandhi dynasty constantly questioned the government on embarrassing issues, notably the links between the prime minister and industrialist tycoon Gautam Adani. In February, the billionaire's empire was rocked by fraud accusations by an American fund.

Gandhi should be able to take part in the next general elections, unless a final judgment prevents him from doing so, as all appeal procedures have yet to be exhausted. "Come what may, my duty remains the same. Protect the idea of India," he said in the wake of the decision.

Be that as it may, the 2024 election will be unlike the previous two editions. The Indian opposition has decided to present a united front against Modi. Twenty-six parties sealed an alliance on July 18 in a bid to prevent the prime minister from winning a third term.

The new coalition, called INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) and united around the Indian National Congress party, brings together lawmakers from all regions who are resisting pressure from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It includes the powerful regional parties of West Bengal, Delhi, Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala.

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