Key Highlights:
- Rahul Gandhi received a 10 push-up penalty for arriving late at Congress training session in Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh
- The incident occurred during the Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan, a 10-day organizational revitalization camp for district presidents
- Bihar Assembly elections are being held in two phases on November 6 and 11, 2025, with results on November 14
Opening Overview
Rahul Gandhi Congress training sessions took an unexpected turn when the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha willingly performed 10 push-ups as punishment for tardiness. The senior Congress leader’s late arrival at a party workers’ training session in Madhya Pradesh’s Pachmarhi became a defining moment of discipline and team-building during the ongoing Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan. Gandhi, who had temporarily stepped away from the intense Bihar election campaign trail, demonstrated leadership by example when AICC Training Department head Sachin Rao enforced the camp’s strict no-delay rule.
BREAKING 🚨
— Ravinder Kapur. (@RavinderKapur2) November 10, 2025
Rahul Gandhi abides by the party's decision to punishment for arriving late.
Rahul Gandhi was punished with 10 push-ups for arriving late to a training session for Congress district presidents in Panchmarhi, MP
Arriving about 20 minutes late RG gracefully… pic.twitter.com/mTKPBBhI2K
This Rahul Gandhi Congress training episode quickly transformed from a formal organizational meeting into an engaging team-building exercise, with district Congress presidents who arrived late also required to complete the physical penalty. The incident highlights the party’s efforts to instill discipline and accountability across all leadership levels during a critical reorganization phase.
Discipline Takes Center Stage at Pachmarhi Training Camp
- The Rahul Gandhi Congress training incident occurred during a team session at the Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan in Pachmarhi, Narmadapuram district
- Sachin Rao, AICC in-charge of training since 2019, enforced the penal action for latecomers
The Rahul Gandhi Congress training camp in Pachmarhi represents a significant organizational initiative by the Indian National Congress to rebuild its structure in Madhya Pradesh, a state where the party won only 66 out of 230 seats in the 2023 assembly elections. According to sources within the Congress, when Gandhi turned up late at one of the sessions, Rao informed him that latecomers must face penal action. When the top leader asked what he would need to do, Rao quipped that at least 10 push-ups would be required. Gandhi, wearing a white T-shirt and trousers, complied instantly without hesitation.
This immediate acceptance of the Rahul Gandhi Congress training rule set a powerful precedent for other leaders present. District presidents who had also arrived late followed his example and completed their push-ups, with Rao later noting that “we received a very good response from district presidents”. The lighthearted yet firm enforcement turned the formal session into what many described as an effective team-building exercise that reinforced the importance of punctuality and accountability.
Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan: Congress Party’s Organizational Revitalization
- The 10-day training camp focused on appointing and training newly appointed district presidents across Madhya Pradesh
- Congress launched the Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan in June 2025 to rebuild the party from grassroots levelyoutube
The Rahul Gandhi Congress training visit was part of the broader Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan, an organizational rejuvenation campaign launched by the Indian National Congress in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari explained that under this campaign, new district presidents were appointed across the state, and innovative approaches are being implemented to strengthen the party structure. The initiative includes training camps at block, district, and state levels, with Gandhi attending on the seventh day of the 10-day training program for district presidents.
According to Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, the purpose of the revamp is to build a “performing, stronger and accountable” organization at booth, mandal, and block levels. The Rahul Gandhi Congress training session in Pachmarhi included strategic meetings with various party wings and addressed internal factionalism while reinforcing unity. The Election Commission of India, which operates under Article 324 of the Constitution, maintains that fair organizational practices strengthen democratic institutions. The camp also featured sessions on political strategy, organizational expansion, and the Congress Mission 2028 roadmap, conducted by senior leaders including Digvijaya Singh and other party veterans.
Bihar Elections and Gandhi’s Balancing Act
- Bihar Assembly elections are being held in two phases: November 6 (121 seats) and November 11 (122 seats), 2025
- Results for all 243 constituencies will be declared on November 14, 2025
The Rahul Gandhi Congress training visit to Madhya Pradesh came at a crucial juncture, as the leader stole time from the high-voltage Bihar election campaign to attend the party meet. The first phase of Bihar elections recorded a voter turnout of approximately 65.09 percent on November 6, 2025. Gandhi’s decision to temporarily leave the Bihar campaign trail underscored the importance of organizational strengthening even during active electoral battles. The BJP has criticized this move, with spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla claiming that “LoP means Leader of Paryatan and partying for Rahul Gandhi,” suggesting the leader was on vacation during critical election days.
However, the Rahul Gandhi Congress training schedule included his return to Bihar for the final day of campaigning before phase two voting. During his Madhya Pradesh visit, Gandhi continued targeting the ruling BJP and Election Commission, alleging large-scale poll irregularities similar to those he claimed occurred in Haryana and Madhya Pradesh elections. He stated, “A few days ago, I presented the Haryana model where 25 lakh votes were stolen — one vote from every eight. This is their system. The main issue is ‘vote chori’. We have evidence and will release it one by one”. The Election Commission of India and BJP have dismissed these allegations as baseless.
Personal Engagement and Leadership Style
- Gandhi interacted informally with families of district presidents about their children’s education and career goals
- The leader participated in a jungle safari in Pachmarhi with other Congress leaders before returning to Bihar
The Rahul Gandhi Congress training experience showcased a different dimension of the leader’s approach to party building and personal engagement with workers. Beyond the formal training sessions, Gandhi spent time connecting with the families of district presidents, inquiring about their children’s educational pursuits and career aspirations — a gesture many participants described as unprecedented personal engagement by a top party leader. This informal interaction style at the Rahul Gandhi Congress training camp reflects the party’s attempt to create stronger emotional bonds with its organizational cadre.
On Sunday, before flying back to join the last day of campaigning in Bihar, Gandhi was taken on a jungle safari in Pachmarhi along with other leaders. The Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee, currently led by Jitu Patwari, has been working to rebuild the party’s presence in the state where it has struggled electorally in recent years. The Indian National Congress, which claims to be among the largest political parties globally, has been conducting digital membership drives and organizational reforms to strengthen its base. Sachin Rao, who holds an MBA in corporate strategy and international business from Michigan Business School, has been instrumental in designing training programs for Congress workers as AICC in-charge of training and Sandesh since 2019.
Closing Assessment
The Rahul Gandhi Congress training episode in Pachmarhi demonstrates the party’s renewed focus on discipline, accountability, and grassroots organizational strengthening during a challenging political period. By willingly accepting the 10 push-up penalty, Gandhi sent a clear message that leadership requires leading by example, regardless of one’s position in the party hierarchy. This incident during the Rahul Gandhi Congress training session became more than just a moment of discipline enforcement; it transformed into a symbol of the party’s commitment to rebuilding itself through strict adherence to organizational norms.
The Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan represents a comprehensive effort to revitalize Congress presence in Madhya Pradesh, where electoral setbacks have necessitated fundamental structural reforms. As Bihar elections conclude and results approach on November 14, 2025, the effectiveness of such organizational initiatives will be tested in the party’s electoral performance. The Rahul Gandhi Congress training approach, combining formal organizational development with personal engagement and strict discipline, reflects an evolving strategy to reconnect with party workers and build a more accountable political structure. Whether this translates into electoral success remains to be seen, but the symbolic importance of leaders adhering to the same rules as ordinary workers cannot be understated in building organizational morale and cohesion.
