RAHUL GANDHI'S BHARAT JODO YATRA REJUVENATES CONGRESS

 

Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra rejuvenates Congress, yatra comes at a crucial time

C R Gowri Shanker

Hyderabad, Oct 18: As Congress leader and Wayanad MP, Rahul Gandhi’s much touted Bharat Jodo yatra enters Makthal in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana State, the Congress leaders and cadre are in upbeat mood.

Rahul Gandhi’s yatra enters Makthal from Raichur in Karnataka on October 23 and the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) leaders and cadre have planned a tumultuous welcome to their leader.

After entering Makthal, Rahul Gandhi and team will take a two-day Deepavali break on October 24, 25 and resume his journey from October 26.

Congress granted Statehood to Telangana when Congress led UPA was in power at the Centre in 2014.

Gandhi’s padayatra passes through Telangana at a crucial stage when campaign for Munugode Assembly constituency is in full swing, where TRS, BJP and Congress are battling out for the seat. Besides, Congress is trying hard to regain its lost glory in Telangana.

Munugode bye elections was necessitated due to resignation of sitting Congress MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy over differences with Congress leadership in the State. Rajagopal subsequently joined BJP and is contesting on BJP ticket.

TRS has fielded former MLA, Kusukuntla Prabhakar Reddy while Congress candidate is Palvai Shravanthi, daughter of ex MLA and ex- Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Palvai Govardhan Reddy.

Rahul Gandhi will certainly take the opportunity to run down both ruling TRS and BJP during his padayatra in Telangana State.

In Telangana, the Bharat Jodo yatra will pass through Makthal, Deverkadra, Mahabubnagar, Jadcherla, Shadnagar, Shamshabad, Aaramghar, Bahadurpura, Charminar, Afzalgunj, Mozamjahi Market, Gandhi Bhavan, Necklace Road, Bowenpally, Balanagar, Moosapet, Kukatpally, Miyapur, BHEL, Patancheru, Sangareddy, Jogipet, Shankarampet and Mudunur.

TPCC president A Revanth Reddy, who had announced the route map, requested party leaders, cadre and Telangana people, especially students, to accord a tumultuous welcome to Rahul Gandhi.

“Like the Britishers, the ruling parties at the Centre and state, are sowing seeds of hatred among the communities for temporary political gains. Rahul Gandhi has taken a leaf from Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals and embarked on this historic Bharat Jodo yatra. Rahul Gandhi is trying to protect the country from divisive forces like BJP, which dividing the country in the name of caste, creed and religion for political gain. Whereas, Rahul Gandhi’s padayatra is for the unity and integrity of the country. I request every citizen to join Rahul Gandhi’s noble yatra,” he said.  

AICC General Secretary, K C Venugopal asked TPCC leaders to make the Bharat Jodo Yatra a big success and exuded confidence that Congress will win 2023 assembly elections in Telangana. He expected at least 50,000 people to welcome Rahul Gandhi when he enters Telangana State.

Amidst political setbacks in the country, leadership crisis in the party, Rahul Gandhi, launched the yatra to unite India, asking people to come together and strengthen the nation. He has been saying that divisive politics was ruining India and its multi-cultural ethos.

Rahul Gandhi began his 3,570 km yatra from country’s southern end pilgrim town Kanyakumari on September 7. The yatra joined by leaders and cadre of respective states and others will pass through 12 states, culminating in Jammu and Kashmir. The total duration of the yatra has been slated for 150 days.

 Faced with poll debacles and desertion by leaders and cadre in various states, Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo yatra, has to some extent rejuvenated the leaders and cadre with political activity.

Interestingly, while Bharat Jodo Yatra is on, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) will elect its new president on Monday. Since Sonia Gandhi, the interim President, and Rahul Gandhi declined to lead the party, elections are being held to elect a new AICC president.

Mallikarjun Kharge, a veteran Congress leader from Karnataka, and Kerala MP Shashi Tharoor are locked in the battle for the AICC president’s post. Over 9,000 delegates will pick the AICC president.

Interestingly, for the first time in 24 years, Congress will elect a non-Gandhi president. Kharge has edge over Tharoor in view of his close proximity to Gandhi family.  

There has been overwhelming response to the yatra till date. Rahul Gandhi has been raising economic, social and political issues at all the road side meetings enroute. He is especially targeting BJP for dividing the country on communal lines, besides touching on subjects of rampant unemployment, inflation, over centralisation of political system, politics of hate and division among others.

Says Rahul Gandhi,” India belongs to us all. Bharat Jodo Yatra belongs to us all.”