Congress Faces Flaks for Limiting Media Outreach to Lutyens Delhi
Congress leaders meet media persons in New Delhi! (Image X.com)
As the BJP courts regional press, Congress draws flak for prioritizing Delhi-based media and ignoring journalists outside the capital
By TRH Political Desk
NEW DELHI, July 28, 2025 — “Why is the Congress Party bound by the limitations of New Delhi?” asked a journalist, reacting to the top leadership of the party meeting exclusively with Delhi-based media during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, along with senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, met with a select group of television journalists and political correspondents from the national capital. The meeting, while seen as an effort to engage with the press, has sparked criticism from both within and outside the party.
Party observers have expressed concern over the Congress’s continuing reliance on Lutyens Delhi media and the visible lack of effort to engage with regional and vernacular press. Critics argue that this restricted approach not only limits the party’s message but also alienates vast sections of the electorate.
On LinkedIn, journalist Ali Hasan wrote: “The Congress High Command, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, met journalists covering the party’s journey. But one can’t help but ask — why are most policies and media engagements still limited to Delhi and the central leadership circle?”
Hasan further questioned why the Congress leadership shows little interest in reaching out to regional journalists across the country. He noted the contrasting approach of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which regularly holds structured media interactions with both national and regional outlets.
He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah began their 2025 Lok Sabha election campaigns by granting interviews to regional media—a calculated move to tap into local sentiments and influence public opinion at the grassroots level.
“If the idea is to build a truly inclusive and representative Congress, then the vision must reflect across regions — not remain confined to the capital. The soul of India also lives in its states — in Lucknow, Chennai, Patna, Bhopal, etc.,” Hasan added.
He concluded with a sharp message to the Congress leadership: “It’s time to listen, empower, and engage beyond Lutyens.”
Political analysts agree that regional media today wields greater influence on public opinion than national outlets. They also highlight the irony in the Congress’s selective outreach to TV journalists—many of whom its leaders have accused of bias in favor of the BJP.
The issue touches a broader concern within the Congress ecosystem: its struggle to decentralize communication and empower state-level leaders and media cells. Without inclusive and strategic engagement with the media beyond Delhi, the party risks further losing its national narrative to more agile and media-savvy opponents.
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