With Rajasthan providing perhaps the most challenging of poll fights among the ongoing state elections, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi is set to camp there and keep a close tab on the electioneering as it enters the final leg.
Rahul Gandhi reached Jaipur on Tuesday evening, and proceeded to campaign in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday morning - the last day of the campaign in the state. According to party sources, with the campaigning coming to an end in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Rahul Gandhi will now focus on the electioneering in Rajasthan, which goes to polls on November 25. His presence in the state will go beyond just addressing public meetings.
According to party sources, Rahul Gandhi, through his team and also the AICC functionaries, is monitoring the campaign. AICC general secretary in charge of organisation K.C. Venugopal and the AICC communications head Jairam Ramesh are also in Rajasthan.
Rahul Gandhi will tour Hindoli, Bundi, Keshoraipatan, Dausa and Sikar on November 19, and the following day, he is scheduled to hold public meetings in Vallabhnagar, Ahore, Jalore, Bhinmal, Raniwara and Baytoo. On November 22, his tour plan includes electioneering in Rajakhera, Dholpur, Nadbai and Gangapur city.
On November 16, kickstarting the final leg of the party's campaign in the state, Rahul Gandhi addressed public meetings in Churu, Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar. A key element of his campaign is a show of unity in the state leadership. He is keen on the leaders from the state putting their rivalry aside as he campaigns, in a repeat of the scenario witnessed during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, when Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his bete noire, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, walked with Rahul Gandhi.
On Thursday, when he arrived in Jaipur from Chhattisgarh, Gehlot, PCC president Govind Singh Dotasra and Pilot together welcomed him.
“We are not just appearing to be together, we are together and we will be together. The Congress will win the election by registering a clean sweep,” Rahul Gandhi told the mediapersons.
The photo-ops at the public meetings that followed were also aimed at conveying the idea of unity.
