The Congress is placing a big bet on Gen Z — and it is sending its biggest name straight to the campus. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is likely to address as many as 28 student interaction programmes under the party's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign, as the party works to build a sustained outreach among students and young voters ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha election.

Key facts

  • 28 cities: Mr. Gandhi is expected to cover 28 cities identified for the first phase of the expansion.
  • 800 cities: The Congress Working Committee approved expanding the campaign to as many as 800 cities over the next few months.
  • 100 cities, immediately: K.C. Venugopal has asked Kanhaiya Kumar to scale up the campaign by appointing coordinators.
  • Already done: Student programmes in Kota, Prayagraj, Dehradun and Pune — with Indore next.

From campus chats to a nationwide push

What began as an initiative to engage directly with students and young people is now being positioned by the Congress as one of its major organisational and political outreach exercises. At its meeting on August 19, the Congress Working Committee approved a plan to expand Chhatron Ki Goonj to as many as 800 cities over the next few months — turning a series of student interactions into a nationwide youth outreach programme.

Who is steering the expansion

Sources told The Hindu that Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal has instructed party leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who oversees the party's frontal organisations including the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), to immediately scale up the campaign to 100 cities by appointing coordinators.

While senior Congress leaders will address some of the proposed interactions, Mr. Gandhi is expected to cover the 28 cities identified for the first phase, taking him to campuses and cities beyond the party's traditional political engagements. So far, he has addressed student programmes in Kota, Prayagraj, Dehradun and Pune, with another interaction scheduled in Indore in the coming days. He is expected to address at least one major city in every State over the next few months.

"In the Northeast, he will probably go to Guwahati; in Bihar, Patna and Purnea; and in Jharkhand, he will address students in Ranchi," said the party insider familiar with the programme.

A latecomer's race for young India

The timing matters. The campaign assumes significance as the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intensify their efforts to retain or win over young and first-time voters. Since 2013, the BJP has built a formidable youth outreach architecture through its organisational network and extensive digital presence; the Congress has been a latecomer.

Now, with growing concerns over unemployment, education, competitive examinations, economic opportunities and political representation for young people, the Congress is pitching Mr. Gandhi as someone representing young voices. The harder test comes later — converting these interactions into an enduring political network and, eventually, electoral support for 2029.