Overview
- Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused Congress of spreading misinformation, said the scheme will cover all panchayats, projected no extra burden on states, and indicated rollout within six months with MGNREGA continuing until then.
- Congress held a national review and is escalating its 45‑day campaign with panchayat chaupals, ward‑level sit‑ins on January 30, district dharnas from January 31 to February 6, state‑level gheraos from February 7 to 15, and zonal rallies from February 16 to 25.
- Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to hold an MGNREGA chaupal in Rae Bareli on January 20 as part of the party’s Uttar Pradesh outreach to rural workers and local functionaries.
- In Karnataka, the party announced five‑kilometre padayatras in every Assembly constituency and gheraos of the BJP office or Raj Bhavan on January 27, while a special legislature session from January 22 to 30 will debate the repeal.
- Congress circulated a letter by Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi alleging the new law removes legal guarantees, shifts to a 60:40 Centre‑state funding pattern, and curtails gram panchayat powers, as state units mounted protests in Odisha and planned an Arunachal Assembly siege from February 7 to 15.