Chennai: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Chennai on Saturday for the sixth edition of the party's youth outreach programme, known as 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' or 'Maanavargalin Kural'. Before engaging in the student interaction, he scheduled a lunch meeting with TVK president and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay at the latter's Neelankarai residence.
This encounter marks the first direct meeting between the two leaders since the formation of the TVK-led Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance and the party's entry into the INDIA bloc. The visit also follows recent bypoll victories for the ruling party in Madurantakam and Dharapuram. Gandhi previously attended Vijay's swearing-in ceremony as chief minister on May 10, 2026.
Following the lunch meeting, Gandhi is scheduled to travel to the Island Grounds for an evening interaction with students. City authorities have implemented a robust security framework, deploying a five-tier cover involving 15,000 police personnel led by Chennai Police Commissioner A Amalraj. Security measures include restricted entry via QR codes, segregated corridors for attendees, and heightened surveillance along transit routes ahead of upcoming political programmes in the city.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief Manickam Tagore stated that roughly 10,000 to 20,000 registered students are expected to participate. The session aims to address key regional and national student concerns, including the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, employment opportunities, women's education, and federal educational policies.
The publicity campaign across Chennai features bilingual banners and posters in Hindi and Tamil, framing the gathering as an unscripted dialogue focusing on student questions regarding employment and education costs rather than a traditional political rally. Upon concluding the evening programme, Gandhi is scheduled to depart for Chennai Airport to catch a late-night flight back to New Delhi.