Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge used New Year greetings on 1 January 2026 to launch a public appeal for a mass movement aimed at protecting the rights of India’s most vulnerable citizens. Posting on X, Mr Kharge urged citizens to defend the right to work, the right to vote and the right to live with dignity while emphasising the need to safeguard the Constitution and democratic values.
Protect rights of the vulnerable
In his message Mr Kharge set out a series of social and economic priorities that he said should define the coming year. He highlighted employment for young people, safety for women, prosperity for farmers and dignity for marginalised groups as shared objectives that require collective effort and public mobilisation.
“On this joyful new year, I extend my warmest greetings to all of you. Let us make this year a mass movement to protect the rights of the vulnerable — the right to work, the right to vote, and the right to live with dignity,” he wrote. He added that empowering citizens and strengthening social harmony should be central to political action in 2026.
The appeal was followed by New Year wishes from other Congress leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who posted a short greeting wishing people happiness, good health and success.
Mr Kharge’s message also reiterated criticism of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government. In a separate post on 31 December 2025 he listed 14 issues he said reflected the state of the country in 2025 under 11 years of BJP rule. Those points included the repeal of MGNREGA, a falling rupee, the SIR exercise and rising unemployment.
BJP national president J.P. Nadda responded by accusing Mr Kharge of spreading falsehoods about the Modi government. Mr Nadda said it was surprising that the main opposition continued to repeat what he called lies despite electoral setbacks.
Political analysts say Mr Kharge’s call for a mass movement is likely to be aimed at rebuilding grassroots support after a string of defeats for Congress in recent years. By framing the appeal around constitutional protections and basic economic rights, the party seeks to present a unifying message that can cross regional and social divides.
Observers note, however, that translating a broad appeal into sustained political mobilisation is challenging. Opposition parties will need to co-ordinate local outreach, policy proposals and clear campaign goals if they hope to convert public sentiment into concrete gains at the ballot box.
For now the New Year pronouncement serves both as a rallying cry to supporters and as an early indicator of the themes Congress intends to prioritise in 2026: jobs, farmers’ welfare, women’s safety and dignity for marginalised communities. How voters respond in the months ahead will shape the party’s prospects as the political cycle progresses.
Key Takeaways:
- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called for a mass movement to protect rights of the vulnerable, including the right to work, vote and live with dignity.
- Kharge stressed safeguarding the Constitution and democratic values as central aims for 2026.
- He criticised the ruling BJP for alleged misgovernance in 2025 while BJP leaders rejected the claims.
- The call has been echoed by other Congress leaders and may shape opposition mobilisation ahead.
