It’s Monday, February 2, 2026, and while the Budget ink is barely dry, the political boxing ring has moved to Twitter (X). The newest guest referee? Elon Musk. On Sunday, Musk reacted to IMF data showing that the “balance of power is changing,” with India and China set to drive nearly 44% of global growth this year.
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The thing is, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju wasn’t about to let that “global high-five” go to waste. He used Musk’s tweet to take a direct swing at Rahul Gandhi, basically telling him to stop “disparaging India” while criticizing the government. Or nothing.
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The “Balance of Power” Clash: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where economic data is becoming the primary weapon in the government-vs-opposition feud. Here’s the ground reality:
The Musk Factor: Musk shared a report (based on IMF figures) showing India as the second-largest contributor to global GDP growth in 2026 at 17%. China is leading at 26.6%, while the US is trailing in third at 9.9%. Let’s be real—when the world’s richest man says “wow” (or something like it) about your GDP, the ruling party is going to print it on a banner. Those too.
Rijiju’s Jab: Kiren Rijiju didn’t hold back. He posted that while criticizing the government is a “democratic right,” belittling national achievements isn’t. He urged Gandhi to “be a proud Indian.” It’s the classic “don’t hate the player, don’t hate the game, but definitely don’t hate the country” move.
Sitharaman’s “Wow”: Even Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman brought it up during a Youth Dialogue. She admitted she didn’t know if Musk actually said “wow,” but the 43.6% combined contribution from India and China was the “strength” the opposition needs to acknowledge.
Gandhi’s Counter: Rahul Gandhi isn’t buying the hype. He’s doubling down on the “real crises”—youth unemployment, falling manufacturing, and plummeting household savings. His take? The Budget is “blind” to the fact that investors are pulling out capital. And then the political stalemate followed.
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Global GDP Growth Contribution: 2026 Projections
| Country | Contribution to Global Growth (2026) | Real GDP Growth Forecast |
| China | 26.6% | 4.2% |
| India | 17.0% | 6.4% to 7.3% |
| United States | 9.9% | 2.1% |
| Indonesia | 3.8% | 4.9% |
| Germany | 0.9% | 0.9% |
And Here’s the Kicker…
The IMF actually raised India’s growth projection to 7.3% for the current fiscal year. The thing is, the government is using these numbers to frame the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” vision as a success, while the opposition is looking at the ground-level “jobless growth.” Those too.
One side comment—Trump’s “dead economy” remark from last year is still being used by Gandhi to justify his stance. It’s messy. Authentic, but messy. Or nothing.
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End….
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