Congress Plans Rahul Gandhi Student Rally in Prayagraj Amid Exam Grievances
The Congress party is preparing for a student convention in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, expected to be addressed by Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the second week of July. This follows a similar event in Kota, Rajasthan, under the party's “Chatron Ki Goonj” initiative.
Congress has appointed Uttar Pradesh general secretary Anil Yadav as coordinator for the event. According to party leaders, a month-long campaign will focus on student issues including paper leaks, recruitment delays, unemployment, and access to quality education. Activities planned include nukkad sabhas, street plays, pamphlet distribution, torchlight marches, and meetings with students, teachers, and civil society groups. A missed-call campaign will allow students to register.
“Prayagraj has historically been a centre of student politics. Students feel Rahul Gandhi raises their concerns and speaks about issues affecting them, whether it is education, paper leaks or recruitments,” Yadav told The Indian Express.
The Congress aims to transform student grievances into a broader political conversation. The party plans to engage not only its own student activists but also students from other organisations, former student union leaders, and academics. Similar outreach is planned for proposed student conventions in Patna and Delhi later in July.
The campaign comes as Uttar Pradesh has witnessed student-led protests over competitive examinations. Aspirants have alleged irregularities, demanded re-examinations, and protested against non-disclosure of answer keys and evaluation processes. Recruitment delays and concerns over government job vacancies are recurring themes.
Prayagraj, a major education hub, has a history of student politics. Recent protests over examination issues and recruitment have resonated there. The Congress sees the location as a strategic choice, especially as the Allahabad Lok Sabha constituency is represented by Congress MP Ujjwal Raman Singh, whose 2024 victory gave the party a foothold in a city historically linked to the Nehru-Gandhi family.
Sources indicate that Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may also attend the event, though no final decision has been announced. The party views the programme as part of a broader strategy to revive its organisation and tap into discontent among young voters, particularly competitive exam aspirants affected by alleged paper leaks, cancelled exams, recruitment delays, and reservation debates.
