Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was spotted wearing an autorickshaw driver’s uniform outside his residence in New Delhi on Friday, drawing significant public attention and sparking discussions across social media platforms. The unusual appearance came as part of his interaction with autorickshaw drivers in the national capital, where he spent time listening to their concerns and experiences.
According to reports, Rahul Gandhi later joined a group of auto drivers in Delhi’s Bengali Market area, where he shared a meal with them and engaged in conversations about rising living costs, fuel prices, and the daily challenges faced by working-class families. Photographs and videos from the interaction quickly went viral online, showing the Congress leader dressed in the distinctive khaki uniform commonly worn by autorickshaw drivers.
The visit was seen as part of Gandhi’s continued outreach efforts aimed at connecting directly with workers, small business owners, and informal sector employees. During the interaction, drivers reportedly discussed increasing operational expenses, traffic-related challenges, vehicle maintenance costs, and the impact of inflation on their earnings. Gandhi listened to their concerns and interacted with several families present at the gathering.
Videos circulating online showed him sitting alongside drivers during lunch and speaking informally with them. In some clips, Gandhi was also seen taking photographs and selfies with workers and local residents who had gathered at the venue. The event attracted attention from passersby and supporters, many of whom welcomed the gesture as an effort to understand grassroots issues more closely.
The Congress leader has frequently adopted similar public engagement campaigns in recent years. Through visits to marketplaces, transport hubs, universities, and workplaces, he has sought to highlight concerns affecting different sections of society. Party leaders described the latest interaction as part of a broader effort to maintain direct dialogue with citizens and understand economic challenges faced by ordinary workers.
Political observers noted that symbolic gestures such as wearing an auto driver’s uniform are often intended to communicate solidarity with specific communities. Supporters praised the move as a demonstration of empathy toward working-class citizens, while critics questioned whether such appearances translate into concrete policy outcomes. As with many public outreach events involving major political figures, reactions remained divided along political lines.
The interaction comes at a time when issues such as inflation, fuel costs, employment opportunities, and urban transportation remain key topics of public discussion. Autorickshaw drivers in major cities have repeatedly raised concerns about fluctuating fuel prices, increasing competition from app-based transport services, and rising maintenance expenses affecting their livelihoods.
While the visit was largely informal, it generated substantial attention online and in political circles. Images of Rahul Gandhi in the auto driver’s uniform became widely shared across social media, making the event one of the day’s most talked-about political moments in the capital.
