Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad for Bharat Summit 2026; interaction with Gig workers takes centre stage

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, Congress Working Committee special invitee Vamsichand Reddy, State ministers and other Congress representatives were present at the airport. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and senior leaders welcomed Rahul Gandhi with bouquets, marking the beginning of his engagements in Hyderabad.

A major highlight of Rahul Gandhi's visit is his scheduled interaction with gig workers at Jayabheri Gardens. The meeting is expected to bring together workers associated with app-based delivery services, ride-hailing platforms and other segments of the rapidly expanding gig economy, providing an opportunity to discuss their working conditions, income security and social protection.

Ahead of the programme, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, Minister G. Vivek Venkatswamy and other senior Congress leaders inspected the venue at Jayabheri Gardens to review arrangements for the gathering. The leadership assessed preparations for the meeting, which is expected to be an important component of Rahul Gandhi's Hyderabad visit.

The interaction assumes significance against the backdrop of growing discussions about the rights and welfare of gig and platform workers across India. Issues such as employment security, accident insurance, healthcare benefits, transparent payment systems and access to social security have increasingly become central to debates surrounding the country's expanding digital economy.

Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly raised concerns about the challenges faced by workers in emerging employment sectors, advocating stronger protections and greater recognition of their contribution to the economy. His engagement with gig workers in Hyderabad is expected to provide a platform for hearing their experiences and concerns directly.

The Telangana Congress government has also been highlighting the need for welfare measures addressing workers outside conventional employment structures. The proposed interaction is therefore expected to draw attention to the role of governments in creating appropriate social security frameworks for platform-based employment.

Rahul Gandhi's visit is associated with Bharat Summit 2026 at Future City, but the gig workers' meeting at Jayabheri Gardens is being positioned as his primary public engagement. The programme reflects the Congress leadership's emphasis on employment, workers' rights and economic security as important elements of its political and policy agenda.