‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ to go nationwide as Rahul Gandhi targets 800 towns ahead of 2029

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron ki Goonj” programme is set for a major expansion, with the Congress planning to take the initiative to students across the country ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha election and forthcoming assembly polls.

According to party functionaries, the first phase will comprise at least 28 episodes, covering all states. A second phase is expected to have around 100 episodes, while the broader programme will eventually reach nearly 800 districts and towns.

Gandhi launched the campaign in Kota, Rajasthan, on June 17. Since then, he has interacted with students in Dehradun, Prayagraj and Pune. The next episode is scheduled in Indore on September 19.

28 episodes planned in first phase

Congress general secretary Kanhaiya Kumar and his team are involved in organising the programme. Party coordinators have been appointed in cities including Patna, Guwahati and Ranchi to invite participants, obtain permissions and handle other arrangements.

“Gandhi will participate in all 28 episodes. For other episodes, we have to involve other senior leaders of the party,” a functionary told Hindustan Times.

The programme has taken up different themes at each stop. In Kota, Gandhi spoke about the education system becoming an “extortion machine”. The Dehradun event focused on “paper leaks are an extortion racket”, while the theme in Prayagraj was “the extortion machine”.

At the Pune event, which was attended only by girl students, Gandhi called for women to challenge patriarchy.

Programme to reach 800 towns

The expansion follows a decision taken at the Congress Working Committee meeting on August 19 to strengthen the party’s student outreach.

“The programme will cover 800 districts. In other words, we will reach out to students in 800 small towns across the country ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha election. This is tough but an important step for the party,” said a second functionary.

After the CWC meeting, Congress leader Venugopal said, “The CWC decided that we will continue Chhatron ki Goonj in around 800 cities small and medium cities. Rahul Gandhi will attend some of these programmes,”

The initiative comes after Congress protests during the Monsoon Session of Parliament over alleged use of force against protesting students in New Delhi on July 20.