The Congress has launched a 45-day nationwide campaign to oppose the repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, betting that the issue of rural jobs can still cut through in an election-heavy year.
Flagged off on January 10 and running until February 25, the campaign has been branded “MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyaan.” It is aimed squarely at the Bharatiya Janata Party government’s decision to scrap the UPA-era jobs guarantee law and replace it with the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-GRAMG.
For the Congress, this is a high-stakes political fight. The party sees MGNREGA as a lifeline for rural workers and farm labourers, and argues that its replacement shifts financial burden to already debt-stressed states. But it is also aware that this agitation is unlike the farm laws protests. The people most affected, daily-wage labourers, do not have the resources or time for prolonged demonstrations. The result is a consciously localised, micro-level campaign.
A PHASED PUSH, VILLAGE BY VILLAGE
According to the party’s official blueprint, the agitation is being rolled out in phases. Preparatory meetings, press conferences and symbolic fasts were held between January 8 and 11. From January 12 to 29, the focus shifted to chaupals, pamphlet distribution and nukkad sabhas. Sit-ins were planned for January 30, followed by district-level dharnas until February 6, Vidhan Sabha gheraos from February 7 to 15, and zonal AICC rallies between February 16 and 25.
The Congress has structured the campaign at every level — panchayat, block, district and state — keeping in mind that MGNREGA workers cannot afford to spend days away from work to protest.
Even so, energising the cadre remains a challenge. Winter conditions, recent assembly election losses and an aggressive BJP ground campaign have weighed on morale. The campaign is unfolding against the backdrop of upcoming elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, adding pressure on state units to deliver.
HARYANA’S LOGISTICAL HEADACHE
In Haryana, the Delhi-issued blueprint triggered activity across districts, with MPs, former MPs and ex-Lok Sabha candidates tasked with overseeing assembly segments. But execution ran into a snag. A training camp for newly appointed district presidents from Haryana and Uttarakhand in Kurukshetra has tied up key organisers until January 22.
“District presidents are nodal officers — how do you cover every village nook without them monitoring?” a party source told India Today. State Congress president Narendra Rao played down the concern. “We’ve formed committees led by senior leaders for assembly-level execution. Monitoring is happening daily through district panels,” he said, pointing to press conferences and fasts led by leaders such as Bhupendra Hooda, Selja Kumari and Randeep Surjewala.
TESTING GROUND IN MADHYA PRADESH
In Madhya Pradesh, the campaign is being closely watched as a test of the party’s grassroots strength in the Hindi heartland. Press conferences were held across districts, and fasts were observed on the first day.
State Congress president Jeetu Patwari framed the issue in blunt terms. “We’re not against GramG. The problem is that they have murdered MGNREGA, the lifeline of rural India,” he said. “The state is already debt-ridden. How will it fund 40 percent of the GramG share? Where’s the money? This is heading for collapse.”
Privately, however, some leaders worry about momentum. With Rahul Gandhi scheduled to visit Indore on January 17 to meet families affected by contaminated water, attention has been split. One senior leader complained that directions were being issued from Delhi without enough ground-level handholding.
“Press conferences won’t reach MGNREGA workers,” the leader said. “When you’re struggling for a morsel a day, who has time to watch TV? You need boots on the ground, pamphlets in villages, even in this weather. Right now it feels slow, almost tokenism, but hopefully it will pick up.”
UTTAR PRADESH’S AMBITIOUS GAMBLE
In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress has rolled out a parallel 100-day plan, launched on Priyanka Gandhi’s birthday. The campaign weaves together MGNREGA, the SIR issue and allegations of “destruction” of Kashi.
State president Ajay Rai said the party plans to hold nearly 30 panchayat-level programmes in February, capped by a Mahapanchayat in Varanasi on February 8. “We have requested Rahul ji or Priyanka ji to join the campaign. That would give us a mega boost,” he said.
The BJP’s counter-campaign, backed by its formidable organisational machinery and a series of press conferences and chaupals, looms large. Congress workers warn that in Uttar Pradesh, the Modi–Yogi leadership advantage could blunt the drive unless the party’s central leadership and the Gandhi siblings add momentum and visibility.
A TIGHTROPE WALK
In Maharashtra, delayed local body elections and dismal results have already dented enthusiasm, making it harder to recharge workers for another fight centred on MGNREGA.
As the BJP pushes its new rural employment scheme across the country, the Congress is walking a razor’s edge. Whether the MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyaan can reignite anti-Modi sentiment, mobilise a demoralised cadre and translate into political gains ahead of crucial state polls remains an open question. For now, the jury is still out.
– Ends
Published By:
Nitish Singh
Published On:
Jan 17, 2026
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