An official WhatsApp group of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the Congress’s student wing, was reportedly renamed “WE THE Chhotu” for three days by disgruntled members, amid resentment over the prominence given to All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora alongside Rahul Gandhi. NDTV, citing sources, reported the episode, and other outlets have followed. The reports are unconfirmed by the NSUI or the Congress.
“Chhotu” is a Hindi term for a small or junior person, often used for an errand boy. According to one report, the new name was meant to suggest that NSUI workers were being treated as juniors and not as leaders. One message in the group reportedly asked whether the NSUI was only there to gather crowds.
Why Bora’s profile became an issue
Bora, a student leader of the left-wing AISA, has drawn attention during the protests in Delhi against the chief election commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar. Reports say Gandhi kept her at the front of a march that went to the Supreme Court, and that she was given a chance to speak to the media at an opposition press conference. She was also invited to Gandhi’s residence for tea. Bora had already gained visibility through a 23-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar over an alleged paper leak.
The group’s members reportedly include the NSUI president, Vinod Jakhar, and the NSUI in-charge, Kanhaiya Kumar. Reports differ on who renamed it. One says a member did so in protest. Another says the officials who were upset renamed it.
The name was reportedly restored after NSUI office-bearers met Gandhi and raised their grievances. Accounts differ on the outcome. One report says the issue was resolved after the leadership spoke to members. Another says the complaint was ignored.
The episode points to a familiar tension in opposition politics. The Congress wants allies such as the Left-affiliated AISA at the front of a broad protest, while its own organizations want visibility for their workers. The NSUI won the Delhi University Students’ Union elections in 2024, which may explain why its office-bearers expect recognition. How the party handles such friction will matter as the joint agitation continues.