Congress Leaders Urge Rahul Gandhi To Launch Bharat Jodo Yatra 2.0 Across East-West Route

Congress leaders have urged Rahul Gandhi to initiate a second 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' spanning from east to west, as conveyed by Congress MP KC Venugopal on Thursday.

"At the CWC meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge initially mentioned that there's a growing consensus among party workers and leaders nationwide for Rahul Gandhi to embark on a second yatra from east to west," remarked KC Venugopal.

Decisions regarding the yatra are expected to be finalized shortly, as indicated by the Congress leader.

This statement emerged following a Congress Working Committee (CWC) session where leaders deliberated on strategies for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the party's underwhelming performance in state assemblies, and the suspension of Opposition MPs from Parliament, among other pertinent issues.

Addressing the outcomes of the CWC meeting, Venugopal highlighted, "We delved into various matters, primarily the recent state assembly election results, the forthcoming 2024 parliamentary elections, and the prevailing political landscape in the country, encompassing parliamentary concerns. The CWC unanimously endorsed their resolution, emphasizing a sincere and thorough evaluation of the outcomes from the five state elections."

Additionally, Venugopal noted that the manifesto committee for the Lok Sabha polls would be announced within the next day or two.

The inaugural phase of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, commencing on September 7, 2022, from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, spanned roughly 4,080 kilometers, concluding in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, in January 2023.

This extensive journey traversed 75 districts across 12 states over 126 days, marking it as India's lengthiest foot march.

Led by Rahul Gandhi, this mass movement, endorsed by Congress, primarily aimed to unify India against the divisive politics of the ruling BJP at the Centre. Addressing socio-economic issues like unemployment and inequality was also a key agenda of the Yatra.