Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra enters Telangana, announces Diwali break

State Congress leaders expect the yatra will rejuvenate and revive the party, besides adding momentum to its Munugode by-election campaign

ByRaj Rayasam

Published Oct 23, 2022 | 1:06 PMUpdatedOct 23, 2022 | 4:13 PM

Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra was accorded a rousing welcome as it entered Telangana on Sunday, 23 October (Twitter/Bharat Jodo)

A rousing welcome was accorded to the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra as it entered Telangana on Sunday, 23 October.

The Congress unit in Telanagana has been hoping that the yatra would rejuvenate and reignite the party, besides adding momentum to its campaign ahead of the November 3 Munugode by-election.

Pummelled by the TRS and BJP, the Congress has been on a downward spiral in the state.

As soon as the yatra left Raichur and crossed the bridge on the River Krishna, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president A Revanth Reddy and his Karnataka counterpart DK Shivakumar handed over the party flags to Gandhi, signalling the yatra’s end in Karnakata and its beginning in Telangana.

The yatra then continued for about four kilometres to Gudabellur in Narayanpet district, where a Diwali break was announced till Wednesday, 26 October.

Earlier, Revanth Reddy met Gandhi in Rayachur on Saturday, 22 October, and explained the arrangements made for his Telangana leg of the yatra.

Rahul Gandhi leaves for Delhi

After reaching Gudabellur, Gandhi left for the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad by helicopter en route to Delhi. He would attend the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected All India Congress Committee president, M Mallikarjun Kharge.

The yatra would resume on Thursday, 27 October, and travel through Telangana for 12 days, covering a distance of 375 km, seven Lok Sabha, and 19 Assembly segments before entering Maharashtra.

Gandhi, the Lok Sabha member from Wayanad, Kerala, would address a meeting at Indira Gandhi statue on PVNR Marg, on 31 October, the death anniversary of his grandmother and former Indian prime minister, Indira Gandhi.

The yatra would pass through Hyderabad city for better exposure. After the memorial meeting, it would pass through Charminar, MJ Market, Gandhi Bhavan, Nampalli Darga, Vijayanagar Colony, Masab Tank, Nagarjuna Circle, Panjagutta, Ameerpet, Kukatpally, Miyapur, Patancheru, Muttangi, Sangareddy Cross Roads, Jogipet, Sanakrampet, and Madanur.