Your members avoid Rahul rallies: BJP mocks Youth Congress over suspensions

Over 200 Youth Congress office-bearers have been suspended for missing Rahul Gandhi's November 1 vote chori rally in New Delhi. Some cited family emergencies for skipping the event, others criticised the platforming of AISA chief Neha Bora. The action has given the BJP fresh ammunition to attack Rahul Gandhi.MP Youth Congress leader Rohit Rajoria (right) said that he was suspended despite informing the party that he could not attend Rahul Gandhi's rally. (PTI/ ITG Images)New Delhi,Nov 5, 2026 18:14 ISTMore than 200 Youth Congress office-bearers have been suspended for skipping the INDIA bloc's November 1 rally in New Delhi, where Rahul Gandhi led the Opposition INDIA bloc's charge against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumat and the alleged vote theft. Among them is a Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress leader who claims he missed the rally because of his uncle's death rites and slammed the party for giving prominence to AISA chief Neha Bora on the party's platforms.The Youth Congress publicly announced the disciplinary action against its own workers through its official social media handles. The disciplinary action, reportedly involving 215 office-bearers across eight state units, has raised questions over how the Congress is treating its own workers. The BJP has seized on the suspensions to mock Rahul Gandhi, claiming even his own party colleagues are unwilling to attend his rallies.One of those suspended is Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress general secretary Rohit Rajoria, who told Aaj Tak's Ravish Pal Singh that he could not attend because of his uncle's terahvin, the 13th-day ritual following a death. Rajoria alleged that he had informed the organisation beforehand but was suspended without a show-cause notice.Other suspended office-bearers cited weddings, illnesses and family celebrations as reasons for missing the rally. Seizing the opportunity, BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan, mocked Rahul Gandhi and claimed that his own Youth Congress colleagues had snubbed him.The INDIA bloc held its "Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao" rally at New Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on November 1, targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll irregularities and vote theft. The gathering, addressed by Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other Opposition leaders, was projected as a major show of strength. Youth Congress office-bearers had been instructed to attend the rally, but several failed to turn up. On November 2 and 3, state units began issuing suspension orders, citing organisational indiscipline, according to reports. OVER 200 YOUTH CONGRESS OFFICE-BEARERS SUSPENDEDAccording to inputs from news agency ANI, over 200 Youth Congress office-bearers have been suspended across several states.Chandigarh-based newspaper, The Tribune, reported that the Indian Youth Congress suspended 215 office-bearers across seven states and its Uttar Pradesh Central unit for missing the November 1 New Delhi rally.The state-wise figures were 60 from Madhya Pradesh, 49 from Gujarat, 32 from Jharkhand, 26 from West Bengal, 14 from Telangana, 13 from Himachal Pradesh, 11 from Uttar Pradesh Central and 10 from Haryana, reported The Tribune.The Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress' X handle also confirmed its action on social media. The order said the disciplinary action followed instructions from the national leadership and would remain effective until further notice.Aaj Tak's Ravish Pal Singh reported that the disciplinary action in Madhya Pradesh affected nine district presidents, five vice-presidents, 14 general secretaries and 32 secretaries."In compliance with the instructions of the national leadership of the Indian Youth Congress, the following office-bearers of the Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress are hereby suspended with immediate effect until further orders, taking serious note of the organisational indiscipline arising from their absence at the "Vote Chori Rally" held at Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi, on November 1, 2026. This action is being taken to ensure organisational discipline and compliance with the directives of the national leadership," the Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress posted on X on November 3.MISSED RALLY FOR UNCLE'S FUNERAL RITES, SUSPENDED; 9 DISTRICT PRESIDENTS AMONG 60 SUSPENDED IN MPThe Madhya Pradesh suspensions included nine district presidents, five vice-presidents, 14 general secretaries and 32 secretaries, according to Aaj Tak's Bhopal reporter Ravish Pal Singh.The nine district presidents were Saurabh Sharma of Maihar, Prithviraj Chauhan of Agar, Manmohan Shaktawat of Neemuch, Arjun Jangle of Burhanpur, Manvendra Mishra of Anuppur, Pancham Bhil of Guna, Aditya Goyal of Barwani, Manvendra Singh Parmar of Chhatarpur and Manish Purohit of Bhind.Rohit Rajoria, one of the suspended general secretaries, questioned the action in an exclusive conversation with Aaj Tak's Ravish Pal Singh."I have been treated unjustly. My uncle's 13th-day death ritual was being held at home. How could I have gone to Delhi? I had duly informed people in the organisation about it. Despite this, I was suspended," Rajoria said.Rajoria alleged that the party had not issued him a show-cause notice before suspending him.He said he had been associated with the NSUI and Youth Congress since 2010 and had faced police action while participating in party demonstrations."I have faced countless lathi blows for the party since 2010. I have been jailed three times and have 12 cases registered against me. After all this, I have been treated unjustly. Why has this happened to me?" he asked.Rajoria also questioned the distribution of organisational responsibilities. "Promote Neha Bora, but give people like us responsibilities too. Workers who have struggled for the organisation for years should not be treated like this," he said, adding that he would raise the matter with the Congress leadership and, if necessary, meet Rahul Gandhi personally.AISA president Neha Bora appeared alongside Rahul Gandhi at his July 25 press conference on student protests and later marched with the Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra towards the Supreme Court on October 12.She also attended an Opposition meeting at Rahul Gandhi's residence on October 13 and participated in the Congress-backed mock Parliament on October 31.WEDDING, ILLNESS AND FAMILY CELEBRATIONS ALSO CITEDRajoria was not the only suspended Youth Congress office-bearer to cite personal circumstances. According to a report in The Indian Express, the Youth Congress president of Madhya Pradesh's Maihar district, Saurabh Sharma, said he missed the rally because of a celebration marking the birth of his elder brother's son after 12 years.Shivraj Singh Yadav, a Youth Congress vice-president, said he could not attend the rally because of his younger sister's wedding, for which he had responsibilities as her only brother.Anuppur district president Manvendra Mishra said he was unwell, while vice-president Rajveer Singh Kudiya and general secretary Suman Maurya also cited health reasons, the newspaper reported.Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress leadership defended the suspensions, maintaining that action was taken only against those who failed to attend without prior intimation, The Indian Express reported.BJP TAKES POTSHOTS AT RAHUL GANDHI, CONGRESSThe suspensions also provided the BJP with an opportunity to attack Rahul Gandhi and the Congress. BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan responded to Gandhi's X post claiming that 73% of young respondents in his poll wanted a debate between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi."Rahul Gandhi, let alone the 73% of youths mentioned in your mock poll, even Youth Congress office bearers of your party consider you utterly unfit and incompetent, which is why they snubbed you by boycotting your failed rally," Kesavan told PTI."Rahul Gandhi has now become very nervous and rattled, which is why he is enacting this desperate drama to frantically divert attention and somehow cover-up the shameful fact that Rahul Gandhi has suspended more than 80 Youth Congress office bearers in Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and across the nation for having shunned and missed November 1 rally," he added.Kesavan also attacked Gandhi over his mock Parliament, mock debates and mock polls, accusing him of avoiding parliamentary debates whenever Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks."Rahul Gandhi has become a laughing stock with his mock polls, mock parliament and other imbalanced stunts," BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan told ANI.While the suspensions have brought Congress's internal disciplinary practices under scrutiny, several long-serving workers have questioned why their personal circumstances were not considered. On one hand, the Youth Congress maintains that organisational discipline must be upheld. On the other, the BJP has turned the episode into fresh ammunition against Rahul Gandhi. What was meant to be a show of opposition unity against alleged vote theft has now sparked a controversy over the Congress's treatment of its own workers.- Ends(With inputs from Aaj Tak's Ravish Pal Singh)