On Friday, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi defended his political rival Smriti Irani against derogatory slurs from his supporters and other detractors on social media. Smriti Irani, who had defeated Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha election in Amethi, lost the seat to Gandhi loyalist Kishori Lal Sharma in the 2024 general elections. The defeat in Amethi was a significant setback for Smriti Irani. In the last ten years, she had been a crucial part of the Modi government, holding several key ministries.