Bharat Jodo: Prithviraj Chavan to join RahulтАЩs yatra as it prepares to enter Maharashtra, Uddhav may not
With Congress leader Rahul GandhiтАЩs Bharat Jodo Yatra set to enter Maharashtra on Monday night, party leaders and workers have been heading to Nanded where the Wayanad MP will have his first halt. Scores of workers have already pitched their tents in Nanded to prepare the ground for GandhiтАЩs four-day stay in the district.
Among the top Congress leaders who will be making their presence felt during the yatra is former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who is part of the G-23 or group of 23 leaders who wrote to Sonia Gandhi in August 2020 seeking sweeping changes in the party structure. тАЬYes, I have started for NandedтАж Will reach before Rahul GandhiтАЩs arrival,тАЭ Chavan told The Indian Express.
Though he is considered to be among the most important Congress leaders in the state, Chavan had been given the cold shoulder by Rahul Gandhi after his association with the G-23 became clear. тАЬI met him when our group met Sonia GandhiтАж But I have not had a one-on-one meeting with him for a long time,тАЭ Chavan said.
Besides Chavan, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Nana Patole and several other top leaders will welcome Gandhi when he arrives in Nanded around 7 pm.
Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londhe said, тАЬThe CongressтАЩs rank and file will be present in Nanded for the next four days. Several of them from across the state have already landed here.тАЭ
Gandhi will cover 382 km on foot during his 14-day Maharashtra yatra, Londhe added. тАЬHe will be touring five districts, including Buldhana, Akola, Hingoli and Washim, apart from NandedтАж After he arrives this evening at Degloor in Nanded, he will visit the gurudwara,тАЭ Londhe said. Gandhi will cover 25 km during each day of the yatra.
Asked whether Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will join the yatra, Londhe said that though a delegation of Congress leaders had last month met and invited him, they have not yet received any confirmation. тАЬWe are awaiting confirmation from the Shiv Sena,тАЭ Londhe told The Indian Express.
When approached, Manisha Kayande, spokesperson for the Uddhav Thackery-led Sena faction, said, тАЬAn announcement in this regard will be made soon.тАЭ However, Sena sources said Thackeray will not join the yatra due to health reasons. тАЬBut Aditya might join the yatra,тАЭ a Sena leader said.
Asked why the yatra has chosen to skip western Maharashtra, a Congress leader said, тАЬIt is a vertical yatraтАж It is not possible to deviate to the other end. From Maharashtra, the yatra will move on to Madhya Pradesh.тАЭ
