Congress faces electoral test as student union defeat follows youth outreach

UPDATE - follow-up to Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron ki Goonj' strikes a chord. Why Gen Z gives Congress a reality check: Even as Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi draws large crowds at his 'Chattron ki Goonj' student outreach events across cities like Indore, Pune, Dehradun, Prayagraj and Kota, the Congress party has suffered a major setback in the Delhi University Students Union elections. The RSS-backed ABVP secured three of the four main posts in the DUSU polls, including president, secretary and joint secretary. The Congress student wing, the NSUI, failed to win any seats, drawing a complete blank despite winning the vice-president's post last year. While the Congress nominated tribal candidate Vijay Shankar Meena for the presidency in a shift toward caste-based outreach, recording a 78% increase in votes compared to 2025, internal party rifts undermined its efforts. The party denied a ticket to Deepanshu Shokeen, who then ran as an Independent and won the vice-president's post against ABVP's Ishu Maurya. Shokeen campaigned barefoot on student issues like campus hostels, drawing support following the fatal Satya Niketan building collapse. Meanwhile, the Congress faced allegations of nepotism for giving a ticket to Veer Chatrath, son of AICC headquarters in-charge Manish Chatrath, who finished a distant third for the vice-president position. In response to recent youth protests over exam irregularities, unemployment, and the education system that led to Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as Union Education Minister, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat have both stepped up outreach to Gen Z. The government withdrew all FIRs against student protesters following Supreme Court intervention, while the BJP continues to utilize grassroots planning and organizational strength. Political analysts note that while Rahul's image has improved, the Congress party continues to struggle with internal organization and booth-level execution, contrasting sharply with the ruling party's electoral machinery.