Rahul Gandhi Is Betting Big On Gen-Z To Revive Congress. Will The Gamble Work?

Last Updated:March 11, 2026, 13:48 IST

Those close to the LoP say he is impressed with the fact that in India’s neighbourhood, change in leadership has been preceded by protests and dismantling traditional structures

Does this mean Rahul Gandhi has a plan of action?

The Congress leader’s intense dislike for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government is obvious. He makes no bones about the fact that he doesn’t think that basic courtesies and protocol need to be followed, especially since he now holds a constitutional position as LoP. Hence, he wants to dismantle and question every present institution as he sees it as not as the country’s institution, but as the prime minister’s. While the BJP sees this behaviour as an insult to the institutions and the country, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress see it as holding the government to ransom and accountable.

This is the first step of the LoP’s plan. The ultimate goal, of course, is to seize power. If not now then in 2029. In fact, those close to Rahul Gandhi say he is impressed with the fact that in India’s neighbourhood, change in leadership has been preceded by protests and dismantling the traditional and conventional structures. He is also convinced that no matter how much effort Congress puts in, the faulty electoral mechanism—as per him—gives little hope of change of guard at the Centre. Even in 2029.

So, Gandhi hopes that India will see a repeat of what happened in Bangladesh, where student protests forced Sheikh Hasina to flee, which brought in a new government. Or in Nepal, where a 35-year-old rapper is on the way to become the prime minister after the country saw massive protests. The scene was repeated in Sri Lanka too, where the Left-leaning regime came in after people took to the streets.

In all three cases, it’s the Gen-Z that forced the change.

Gandhi is pinning his hopes on a similar situation in India where the restless youth, frustrated by lack of jobs and soaring ambition, will take to the streets to bring a change of guard.

For Rahul Gandhi, what the Youth Congress workers did was just a trailer. He hopes that the protest will be a cue to many others, including those who are not necessarily with the Congress.

It is for this reason that Gandhi has, over the last few weeks, met up with people from segments of society that he believes have the potential of being rebels—Dalits, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and farmers.

Despite this, Gandhi’s heart is set on Gen-Z who he thinks can be his engine of change and growth. But given the nature of the youth who don’t seem to have backed the Congress wholeheartedly in polls, will this plan of Rahul Gandhi work? Or will his rebellion be without a cause?

News politics Rahul Gandhi Is Betting Big On Gen-Z To Revive Congress. Will The Gamble Work?

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