Congress will extend ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign to more than 800 cities

Rahul Gandhi is likely to address as many as 28 student interaction programs under Congress’ ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign. File | Photo credit: The Hindu

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is likely to address as many as 28 student interaction programs as part of Congress’ ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign as the party seeks to build sustained outreach among the youth, students and young Gen Z voters ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

The programme, which started as an initiative to directly engage students and young people, is now positioned by the Congress as one of its main organizational and policy exercises.

Zooming in

At its meeting on 19 August, the Congress Working Committee approved a plan to expand Chhatron Ki Goonj to 800 cities over the next few months, reflecting the party’s drive to transform what began as a series of student interactions into a nationwide youth programme.

Sources told The Hindu that Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal has instructed party leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who oversees the functioning of the party’s front organisations, including the National Students Union of India (NSUI), to immediately expand the campaign to 100 cities by appointing coordinators.

While senior Congress leaders will discuss some of the proposed interactions, Mr Gandhi is expected to cover the 28 cities earmarked for the first phase of expansion. The proposed program will take Mr. Gandhi to campuses and cities beyond the party’s traditional political engagements, allowing him to engage directly with students and young people.

So far, Mr Gandhi has addressed student programs in Kota, Prayagraj, Dehradun and Pune. Another interaction is scheduled in Indore in the coming days.

According to sources, Mr. Gandhi is expected to address at least one major city in each state in the next few months. “In the Northeast, he is likely to go to Guwahati, Bihar, Patna and Purnea and in Jharkhand he will address students in Ranchi,” said a party member familiar with the programme.

Get young voters

The campaign gains importance as the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intensify their efforts to retain or win over the youth and first-time voters. Since 2013, the BJP has built a formidable youth architecture through its organizational network and extensive digital presence, while the Congress has been a laggard.

Now, with growing concerns over issues such as unemployment, education, entrance examinations, economic opportunities and political representation of the youth, the Congress is trying to portray Mr. Gandhi as someone who represents the youth vote.

For Congress, the challenge is to turn student interactions into a lasting political network and ultimately electoral support for 2029.

Published – 04 Sep 2026 22:19 IST