‘Paise Ki Goonj’: BJP claims Congress paid influencers to draw crowds for Rahul Gandhi’s Pune event
The BJP has accused the Congress party of paying social media influencers to manufacture crowds for Rahul Gandhi's student event in Pune. Congress leaders have denied the allegations, claiming the BJP is intimidated by Gandhi's popularity among the youth.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights the increasing role of social media influencers in political campaigning and the intense scrutiny of campaign finance in Indian politics.
The BJP on Saturday (August 22, 2026) dubbed Rahul Gandhi's student event in Pune as "Paise Ki Goonj", alleging that the Congress had paid social media influencers to mobilise crowds, triggering a fiery response from the Opposition, which claimed the saffron party feared the growing Gen-Z support.
While BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban alleged that the Congress had spent nearly ₹10 crore to buy attendance by paying up to ₹35,000 per influencer for the "Chhatron Ki Goonj" programme, Opposition leader Sachin Sawant retorted that BJP leaders were terrified of Gandhi's growing influence among youngsters.
Mr. Gandhi is slated to hold a "Chhatron Ki Goonj" event specifically dedicated to female students in Pune on Saturday.
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