The Congress party is planning to launch the second phase of its Bharat Jodo Yatra, a massive public outreach campaign led by former president Rahul Gandhi, in January 2024. The yatra, which aims to unite India against the divisive politics of the ruling BJP and address other socio-economic issues, will be in hybrid mode, with participants marching on foot as well as using vehicles.
According to sources, the Congress is considering two routes for the yatra. One route will start from a northeastern state and cover a distance of about 4,000 kilometers. The other route will start from a western state and cover a distance of about 3,500 kilometers. Both routes will converge at a common point in Uttar Pradesh, where Rahul Gandhi will address a series of public meetings every day.
The decision on the route and the date of the yatra will be taken soon by the Congress Working Committee (CWC), which met on December 21 to discuss various issues related to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024. The CWC also adopted a resolution to form a manifesto committee for the elections within two days.
The first phase of Bharat Jodo Yatra began on September 7, 2022, from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and ended on January 31, 2023, in Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. It covered a distance of about 4,080 kilometers and passed through 75 districts in 12 states in 126 days. It marked India’s longest foot march by any political leader.
The yatra was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March in 1930, which was part of his non-violent struggle against British colonial rule. The yatra also drew parallels with Jawaharlal Nehru’s Tryst with Destiny speech in Delhi on January 26, 1947, which marked India’s independence from British rule.
The main objective of the yatra was to create awareness among people about various issues affecting them such as unemployment, inflation, corruption, communalism, environmental degradation, etc. The yatra also aimed to showcase the achievements and vision of the Congress party at both national and state levels.
The yatra received widespread support from various sections of society such as students, workers, farmers, women, minorities, etc. It also generated positive media coverage and social media buzz. However, it also faced some challenges such as security threats from anti-social elements; logistical difficulties due to weather conditions; criticism from some sections of society who accused it of being opportunistic or irrelevant; etc.
The second phase of Bharat Jodo Yatra is expected to be more ambitious and impactful than the first one. It will also have more prominent faces from both sides of politics joining it as part of an opposition alliance against BJP. Some names that have been speculated are Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Nitish Kumar (JD(U)), etc.
The second phase of Bharat Jodo Yatra is likely to be announced soon by Rahul Gandhi himself or his party spokespersons. It is hoped that it will boost his popularity and credibility among voters ahead of the crucial elections next year.
