Congress Launches 45-Day MGNREGA Protest Against VB-G RAM G Act

The Congress on Saturday announced a 45-day nationwide agitation, titled “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram,” to pressure the government into restoring the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intensified its outreach to counter criticism of VB-G RAM G (Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission) -- the new legislation that replaced the rural jobs scheme. The campaigns come ahead of assembly polls in four states and one Union Territory, with both national parties aiming to mobilise voters at the grassroots level. The Congress general secretary KC Venugopal and communication chief Jairam Ramesh announced that the “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram” will be held in three phases. “The Indian National Congresss will launch the first phase of its 45-day MGNREGA Bachao Sangram across all states, districts, blocks, and gram panchayats from Jan 8, 2026. The Sangram is to restore the Constitutional right to work... The law bulldozed through to replace MGNREGA, 2005 is a recipe for dangerous centralisation, the devastation of state finances, and the loss of bargaining power for rural daily wage-earners,” Ramesh posted on X. He added that they will also go to court against the new scheme. In an attempt to make the pro-MGNREGA into a wider agitation, Venugopal said the Congress “will hold detailed discussions with all the opposition-ruled states, and fight together.” On the other hand, BJP national president JP Nadda, working president Nitin Nabin and Union minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan have began holding a series of online sessions for chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, state presidents, MLAs, MLCs, state and national office bearers and lawmakers to brief them on the VB G RAM G Act. In the recently concluded winter session, the Centre initiated VB G RAM G Bill, which became an Act after President Droupadi Murmu’s assent. The political calendar adds urgency as four states and one Union Territory head to polls, potentially shaping how the new act is perceived across rural communities. The Congress contends the Act centralises power, undermines the right to work, and shifts financial burdens onto states, while the BJP argues the reform will streamline employment and accountability. The scene in New Delhi reflected a broader national battle over rural jobs policy as parties vie for voters who have traditionally depended on MGNREGA for income stability.

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