Rahul Gandhi Performs 10 Push-Ups as Penalty for Late Arrival at Congress Training Session

Rahul Gandhi took a brief pause from his Bihar campaign responsibilities to attend a Congress training event in Madhya Pradesh.

In Bhopal, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, faced an unexpected consequence for arriving late at a training session for Congress workers: he was instructed to perform 10 push-ups. Gandhi promptly accepted this penalty, setting an example that district Congress presidents who were also tardy had to follow. What began as a formal organizational meeting transformed into an engaging team-building activity.

Congress sources revealed that this push-up incident occurred during a session in Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh, where the party was conducting its 'Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan' – an initiative designed to reinvigorate the party's organizational structure.

Gandhi had briefly stepped away from the intense Bihar election campaign to participate in this Madhya Pradesh party gathering. When he arrived late to one session, Sachin Rao, the training director, informed him that latecomers must face a "penal action." When Gandhi inquired about his punishment, Rao suggested, "At least 10 push-ups."

Without hesitation, Gandhi, dressed in a white T-shirt and trousers, complied with the directive. District presidents followed his lead, turning what was initially Rao's lighthearted comment into a bonding experience for the team. Gandhi later commented, "We received a very good response from district presidents."

During his time in Pachmarhi, Gandhi continued his criticism of the ruling BJP and the Election Commission, alleging widespread voting irregularities. He claimed that similar issues had occurred in the Madhya Pradesh election. "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," he stated. Both the BJP and the election commission have dismissed these allegations.

Meanwhile, the BJP has criticized Gandhi, suggesting he was vacationing amid the Bihar campaign. "LoP means Leader of Paryatan and partying for Rahul Gandhi. Even as Bihar elections are on, Rahul Gandhi goes for vacation. Election in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi is enjoying a 'Jungle Safari' in Pachmarhi," BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla posted on X.

"This shows his priorities. When they lose elections, they will blame ECI & do a PowerPoint presentation on H Files (holiday files). Ta umr Congress yeh galti karti rahi, dhool chehre pe thi Congress aaina saaf karti rahi," he added, adapting Ghalib's poetry to imply poor judgment and misplaced focus.