Rahul Gandhi's Pune event a 'political comedy show': BJP; Congress claims ruling party 'shaken'
The BJP and Congress are trading barbs over Rahul Gandhi's recent student outreach event in Pune. The BJP dismissed the event as a 'political comedy show,' while Congress claimed the ruling party is threatened by Gandhi's popularity.
Why it matters
This reflects the ongoing political polarization and campaign rhetoric in India ahead of future electoral cycles.
BJP Maharashtra vice-president Keshav Upadhye on Sunday (August 23, 2026) termed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's student interaction in Pune a "political comedy show" and accused him of making political statements instead of addressing issues concerning students.
Hitting back, Congress national secretary Sachin Sawant said the BJP was rattled by the response to Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Pune on Saturday (August 22), and claimed that the ruling party had lost sleep over his growing appeal among youngsters.
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, interacted with students in Pune as part of his party's youth outreach programme.
Mr. Upadhye, however, in a statement, claimed there was a contradiction between the Congress MP's statements and the party's past actions.
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