Congress Working Committee meeting on Thursday was used to set the stage for a Rahul Gandhi-led east to west Bharat Jodo Yatra from next month. The idea though was presented as party president Mallikarjun Kharge 'conveying' to Gandhi that he 'received nationwide massive appeal' from party rank file for a second Gandhi-led yatra, before 'appealing' to Gandhi to undertake it. Taking a cue, most of the 76 CWC members exhorted Gandhi to venture out again.
However, according to party insiders, some members questioned the feasibility of timing the yatra when the Lok Sabha polls were just around the corner.
The CWC announced no date, but the yatra is expected to be from the second week of January and mostly on bus, and on foot in city areas. It may start from Manipur or Arunachal and conclude February end in Gujarat. Some advised against a yatra by foot and for use of vehicles to cover the path quickly.
One person said that yatra-II would run right into BJP's mobilisation for the Ram Temple inauguration, and therefore the party should be ready to deal with the narrative. To this some said, Congress and yatra should highlight its ideology. Another member said yatra may better skip politically difficult states such as Odisha and Mizoram and focus on states where the party has roots and hope.
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