Nehru and Adani

After addressing the Speaker, Modi most often said “Nehru ji” (98 times), “for the first time” (57), “Viksit Bharat” (55) and “Babasaheb” (54). He referred to “the year 2014” as many as 53 times.

Gandhi’s list was led by “Speaker Sir” (126) and “Prime Minister” (122), followed by “Adani” (58) and “caste census” (19). He said “mujhe bolne dijiye” (let me speak) 26 times.

To find the words each leader returns to again and again, the study counted only phrases used in at least three separate debates. This kept out phrases repeated heavily in a single speech. Modi, for instance, said “Vande Mataram” 99 times in one speech, and Gandhi used “chakravyuh” 48 times in one address, but neither made the list.

China versus Constitution

The analysis also adjusted for the gap in total words spoken. On that basis, Gandhi raised China far more often, 19.7 times per 10,000 words against Modi’s 0.4. He also spoke more often about jobs, Agniveer and Manipur.

Modi mentioned the Constitution 24.5 times per 10,000 words, more than three times Gandhi’s rate. Both spoke about women at almost the same rate.

Modi said “we” 1,875 times and “I” 1,124 times. Gandhi reversed the pattern, saying “I” 1,339 times and “we” 847 times.

Under 1 per cent of Modi’s words were in English, compared with 58 per cent of Gandhi’s.

Gaps in the record

The official record prints an asterisk where a member’s words are removed on the Chair’s orders or were not recorded. Gandhi’s speeches carry such marks at 107 places, while Modi’s have none. The analysis does not say what words are missing.

The most, 32, came in Gandhi’s February 11, 2026, speech on the Budget and the India-US interim trade deal. The government said at the time that his allegations had not been authenticated.

His speech on Manipur violence in August 2023 had 23 such gaps, and a February 2023 speech raising questions about the Adani Group had 18.

More words after 2024

Gandhi became Leader of Opposition in June 2024. Since then, he has spoken 2.9 times as many words as in 2019–2023.

Between January and July 2026, he spoke 11,765 words against Modi’s 5,693. It was the only year in the period in which he outspoke the Prime Minister.

Many of his interventions were brief, though. He spoke under 500 words in 19 of his 34 debates, compared with four of 24 for Modi.

Modi’s longest speech, 11,634 words, was his reply to the no-confidence motion on August 10, 2023. Gandhi’s longest, 5,907 words, was his first speech as Leader of Opposition on July 1, 2024.

In the 51 debates where either leader spoke, the Chair said “please conclude” 433 times and “sit down” 373 times.