Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Maharashtra to take part in the ongoing organisational strengthening process as part of the 10-day mandatory residential training camp in Nashik under Congress s Sangathan Srijan Ab Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Maharashtra to take part in the ongoing organisational strengthening process as part of the 10-day mandatory...
Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Maharashtra to take part in the ongoing organisational strengthening process as part of the 10-day mandatory residential training camp in Nashik under Congress’s Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan.
While the training camp includes coaching on organisational building, party ideology, political scenarios, among other things, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and understanding rural realities by working under the MGNREGA scheme may also feature during the 10 days of the campaign.
Rahul Gandhi, who will be spending a full day with the party workers attending the training programme, is a blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu.
‘Shramdaan, Jiu-Jitsu’: What will trainees do?
Organised under the leadership of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Training Department, the training will be held by the AICC training team led by Sachin Rao and feature Shramdaan. The Congress workers will also be taught fitness, discipline, patience, mental resilience, and the attitude to face challenges through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. To understand rural realities and the issues faced by ordinary citizens, trainees will be given firsthand working experience under MGNREGA.
“This training has been designed from the broad perspective of “New Generation, New Leadership, and a Strong Organization.” While studying the changing social and political climate, the training aims to develop four key attributes: direct contact with the public, organizational skills, ideological clarity, and leadership capability,” Shirke said.
Rahul Gandhi will hold a full-day special guidance session to lead discussions on the challenges, organisational preparedness, ideology, and the party’s role in national politics, followed by questions, expectations, issues, and political perspectives of the workers.
“The training program will place special emphasis on organizational building, leadership development, party ideology, political scenarios, social issues, and methods of connecting with the general public,” said Ashutosh Shirke, Maharashtra Congress training cell president.
In his letter to the state unit, Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal said that a 10-day residential training program has been organised in Nashik as part of the selection and appointment process for District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents under the Congress party’s “Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan”.
“Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has given his consent to attend and provide his valuable guidance on one of the days,” Venugopal said in the letter.
In May 2026, the state unit of the Congress appointed 69 new organisational district presidents.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues. Expertise Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai. Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands'). Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including: State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana). Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides). Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits. Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects. Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission. Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards. Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra. He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More