Gujarat to Meghalaya: Rahul Gandhi’s journey to unite or divide India?

Rahul Gandhi, the torchbearer of India’s prominent Congress Party, is all set to kick off the second leg of his widely-publicized Bharat Jodo Yatra, commencing in Gujarat and stretching all the way to Meghalaya. His decision comes on the heels of the first leg’s conclusion which covered a whopping 4,000 km over 130 days, starting from Kanyakumari in the south and ending in the northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Congress Lends Its Full Support

Nana Patole, the chief of the Congress in Maharashtra, in an electrifying statement, revealed that parallel marches would be held in the state to bolster Rahul Gandhi’s initiative. Echoing Patole’s enthusiasm, Gujarat’s opposition leader, Amit Chavda, highlighted the symbolic importance of Gujarat, the birthplace of India’s freedom icons, Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, as the starting point for this leg of the yatra. However, the detailed itinerary remains under wraps.

Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra: What’s Next for the Unite India March? Photo courtesy of All India Congress Committee.

A Rocky Political Path for Rahul Gandhi

March 2023 brought a shockwave in Indian politics when Rahul Gandhi faced a conviction in a defamation case related to a comment on the ‘Modi’ surname, leading to his disqualification from Lok Sabha. But, in a twist of events, the Supreme Court intervened last week, and Gandhi reclaimed his seat as a Lok Sabha MP, reigniting the political fires.

BJP’s Verdict: A Failed Yatra

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains skeptical. Madhav Bhandari, the vice president of Maharashtra BJP, openly criticized the yatra’s efficacy, alleging that the Congress party’s connection with the masses has dwindled. By citing Congress’s focus on the Kokan region, Bhandari hinted at potential rifts within the Mahavikas Aghadi coalition.

Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra has set the political stage ablaze, with supporters rallying behind him and critics casting doubts. As the next phase unravels, India keenly watches this unfolding political saga.