Students back Rahul Gandhi, ask if he would act if in power

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s youth outreach in Prayagraj struck a strong chord with students, with many welcoming his focus on employment, competitive examinations and the challenges confronting young people.

Thousands of students gathered at K.P. Ground for Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme, braving waterlogged stretches and muddy patches left behind by rain. The Congress leader used the platform to speak at length about the concerns shaping the lives of India’s youth — from scarce employment opportunities and competitive examinations to the struggles of students from economically weaker families.

Rahul Gandhi’s message appeared to resonate particularly with students preparing for competitive examinations and looking ahead to uncertain career prospects.

Himanshu Tripathi, a postgraduate from Allahabad University preparing for the National Eligibility Test, said Rahul Gandhi had raised students’ concerns “very forcefully”. Yet, he questioned whether those concerns would receive the same attention if Gandhi eventually came to power.

Rashmi Yadav, who is preparing for competitive examinations, said she had attended the programme to understand Gandhi’s vision for the future of students. She, too, remained cautious about political promises.

“All politicians make big promises from the stage, but their priorities change after they come to power,” she said.

For others, however, Rahul Gandhi’s engagement with students left a stronger impression. Rakesh Maurya said the Congress leader had “won the hearts of students” with his remarks, particularly his focus on young people from poor families who struggle to complete their education while waiting for job vacancies.

Shashi Prakash, a Banaras Hindu University student, said Rahul Gandhi appeared to have understood the anxieties confronting the younger generation.

“He understands well the problems young people are facing today. After the Jantar Mantar incident, people’s expectations from Rahul Gandhi have increased,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi also sought to make the interaction more personal, speaking with students on the stage as well as those seated away from the main platform. He listened to their concerns and discussed issues surrounding education, recruitment and employment — themes that have increasingly become central to his student and youth outreach.

The Prayagraj gathering comes against the backdrop of growing political attention on youth aspirations and competitive examinations in Uttar Pradesh. Rahul Gandhi has increasingly positioned himself as a voice for students and job seekers, questioning recruitment processes and raising concerns over what he describes as inadequate opportunities for the country’s young population.

Despite the difficult conditions at K.P. Ground after the rain, the sizeable turnout underlined the pull of Rahul Gandhi’s youth-focused campaign — while the mixed reactions from students also revealed the challenge before him: turning political promises into confidence among a generation increasingly impatient for tangible opportunities.

With PTI inputs