The Congress launches ‘MGNREGA Bachao Andolan’ from January 5, opposing the VB-G RAM G Act and aiming to mobilise rural voters before 2026 polls.
New Delhi, December 27, 2025, 6:25PM IST— The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met in New Delhi on December 27, 2025, to plan a nationwide protest against the government’s Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, known as the VB-G RAM G Act. This new law replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which has been in place for nearly two decades.
The meeting was chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were also present. The party decided to begin protests from January 5, 2026, under the banner “MGNREGA Bachao Andolan.” The aim is to mobilise rural voters ahead of the important Assembly elections scheduled in 2026.
मनरेगा के खात्मे का एक ही मकसद है –
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 27, 2025
गरीबों के रोज़गार के अधिकार को मिटाना,
राज्यों से आर्थिक और राजनीतिक शक्ति चुराना,
और उस पैसे को अरबपति मित्रों को पकड़ाना।
‘एक अकेले’ प्रधानमंत्री की मनमानी का नुकसान पूरा भारत भुगतेगा – रोज़गार खत्म होंगे, ग्रामीण अर्थव्यवस्था टूटेगी।
और,… pic.twitter.com/yH810bEkio
What the VB-G RAM G Act Says
The VB-G RAM G Act received President Droupadi Murmu’s assent earlier this month. The law promises 125 days of wage employment per financial year to rural households, an increase from the 100 days provided under MGNREGA.
Under the new framework, states must notify employment schemes within six months. The Act also links rural works to Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans and creates a national rural infrastructure database to improve planning and ensure labour availability during peak farming seasons.
However, Congress leaders strongly oppose the changes. They argue that the Act shifts the scheme from being demand-driven to supply-driven. The party also objects to increased financial responsibility on states, which could rise to 40 per cent, and the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the programme.
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Congress Raises Sharp Criticism
Senior leaders, including Jairam Ramesh and Rahul Gandhi, compared the Act to demonetisation, calling it a move that could harm rural livelihoods. The party accused the government of weakening workers’ rights and centralising control within the Prime Minister’s Office.
The CWC described the law as “anti-people” and vowed to take the issue to villages across the country. Party leaders said they want to maintain sustained pressure, unlike earlier campaigns on issues such as demonetisation, GST, Rafale, and alleged electoral irregularities, which failed to gain long-term momentum.
Bihar Defeat Shapes Strategy
The meeting was the first CWC gathering after Congress’s disappointing performance in the November 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. The BJP-led NDA won 202 of the state’s 243 seats, while Congress managed to secure only six seats. The RJD-led Mahagathbandhan won 35 seats.
The poor result has reinforced the party’s belief that a strong rural agenda is crucial. Assembly elections are due in several states in early 2026, including Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry.
Attendance and Internal Signals
Chief Ministers from Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh attended the meeting, along with several state Congress presidents. Their presence was seen as an effort to project unity.
The attendance of MP Shashi Tharoor, who had missed recent meetings, and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, amid speculation about leadership changes in the state, drew attention.
The meeting at the AICC headquarters focused on finalising a coordinated, multi-state protest strategy to challenge the government on the new rural employment law.
