Titas Mukherjee
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is set to launch his mega student outreach campaign from Rajasthan's Kota on Wednesday evening, placing concerns over examination irregularities, paper leaks and youth unemployment at the centre of a major political mobilisation. The event, scheduled at the Shri Ram Rangmanch in Kota's Dussehra Ground, comes days before the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination and has already sparked a fierce political battle between the Congress and the BJP. Congress leaders have described the convention as the first in a nationwide series aimed at engaging directly with students and young people on issues affecting their future.
Ahead of the programme, Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi-led government, accusing it of failing India's youth through repeated examination controversies and shrinking employment opportunities. In a post on X, Gandhi said the responsibility of securing the future of young Indians rests with the government. "My young and Gen Z friends, one thing is clear to me, and I want you to engrain this in your heart as well: securing the future of every young Indian is the government's responsibility," he wrote.
He further alleged that the Centre had failed to uphold that responsibility. "Paper leaks, exam mismanagement, cancelled recruitments, skyrocketing fees, privatisation and scams, these are the very tools with which they are shattering crores of dreams every day," Gandhi said. The Congress leader added that he wanted to discuss these concerns directly with students and hear their experiences.
Party leaders have projected the Kota gathering as the starting point of a broader campaign focused on education, recruitment examinations and employment. Preparations intensified ahead of Rahul Gandhi's visit, with Congress workers carrying out mobilisation drives across the city.
A strategy meeting of the Mahila Congress was held in Gumanpura, where leaders reviewed participation plans and assigned ward-level responsibilities to ensure a strong turnout. Among those present were Mahila Congress national secretary and Rajasthan in-charge Deepti Singh, City District Congress Committee president Rakhi Gautam and Mahila Congress city president Shalini Gautam.
The BJP responded aggressively to the planned convention, accusing Gandhi and the Congress of politicising students' concerns ahead of the NEET re-examination scheduled for 21 June. BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that the event was part of an organised political campaign designed to create controversy. "When students want to study and rewrite their exam, why is it that you and your leaders are threatening students and other stakeholders?" Bhatia asked. He further claimed that the protest movement around the issue was politically motivated. "The entire protest has been sponsored by the toolkit gang, whose kingpin is Rahul Gandhi. The motive is to play with the future of the youth, who are preparing to write their exam," he said.
The political confrontation widened after BJP workers staged demonstrations in Kota, arguing that students should be allowed to focus on their examinations rather than political activities. Meanwhile, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accused the administration of removing hoardings and publicity material related to Gandhi's programme. Gehlot alleged that the action reflected nervousness within the ruling party and was aimed at undermining the convention.
The convention comes against the backdrop of the ongoing controversy surrounding the NEET-UG examination. The National Testing Agency is scheduled to conduct a re-examination on 21 June after cancelling the earlier test held on 3 May amid allegations of a paper leak. The matter is currently being investigated by the CBI. The choice of Kota as the launch venue carries particular significance. Widely regarded as India's largest coaching hub, the city hosts an estimated 1.2 lakh students preparing for competitive examinations such as NEET and JEE.
