The allegation centres on a video containing a purported telephone conversation between an unidentified woman described as an influencer and a man who introduces himself as “Shantanu”. The caller is heard discussing payment for attending an event on August 22 and producing social media content connected with it.
The BJP claimed the conversation showed influencers being recruited to create favourable publicity for Gandhi’s programme. The party said the proposed payment included travel expenses and was linked to the influencer attending the event, recording videos and uploading promotional material afterwards.
However, the available recording does not independently establish that the caller represents the Congress. Neither the Congress nor Rahul Gandhi is explicitly identified during the portions of the conversation that have circulated publicly, and the identities of the people heard in the recording have not been independently authenticated.
The recording therefore remains the basis of a political allegation rather than independently verified evidence that the Congress authorised payments to influencers.
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari was among those who amplified the claim, accusing the Congress of attempting to manufacture support for Gandhi among younger voters. BJP units also circulated portions of the conversation through social media, describing the alleged arrangement as evidence of paid political promotion.
The caller can be heard discussing the production of videos showing Gandhi speaking and the gathering at the venue. The influencer is also encouraged to speak to participants, particularly female students, and record their reactions to the programme. The material was expected to be uploaded after the August 22 event.
The dispute has emerged as Gandhi prepares to hold the third edition of “Chhatron Ki Goonj”, an initiative aimed at engaging students over education, employment, competitive examinations and other issues affecting young people.
Saturday’s Pune programme is expected to place particular emphasis on the concerns of female students. Congress leaders have presented the event as a platform for women to raise questions involving education, safety, equality, career opportunities and access to public institutions.
The programme is scheduled at the SSPMS College ground near RTO Chowk, with police permission allowing it to run from 4.30 pm until 9.30 pm. Authorities have estimated attendance at between 8,000 and 10,000 people.
Police have imposed 30 conditions on organisers. These include restrictions on objectionable banners and images, requirements intended to prevent inflammatory statements and instructions designed to protect public order and religious sensitivities. Organisers have also been made responsible for compliance with security requirements.
The conditions followed prohibitory orders introduced across Pune for a 14-day period covering political protests, festivals and other public gatherings. Congress leaders had criticised the restrictions and questioned whether they could interfere with Gandhi’s programme, although police subsequently granted specific permission for the event.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal has said participation is open to students and rejected suggestions that attendance would be confined to institutions associated with Congress leaders. He described the programme as an interaction with young women rather than a conventional political rally.
Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar has also defended the initiative, arguing that opposition to the programme reflects wider political disagreement over student protests and demands for education reform. Congress organisers have sought to link the Pune meeting with concerns over unemployment, examination irregularities and opportunities available to younger generations.
The controversy over the alleged influencer payment highlights the increasingly important role of social media creators in political communication. Parties across the political spectrum now use digital personalities, short-form video and creator networks to reach younger audiences who consume political information outside traditional television and newspaper platforms.
