Ramesh Chennithala says Bharat Jodo Yatra that ‘transformed Rahul Gandhi’ was his brainchild

Veteran Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala claimed that it was he who originally proposed the idea of Congress conducting a yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, and that the Bharat Jodo Yatra was born out of that proposal. 

Chennithala said that he made the proposal during the Udaipur 'Chintan Shivir', and at that time, he had no idea that Rahul Gandhi would personally lead the yatra. The senior leader made the claim while speaking to the Malayalam digital channel The Cue.

“I did not know Rahul Gandhi would walk the entire stretch. What I proposed was a yatra by the party that would interact with local populations, educate the masses, and build a mass movement. I proposed it as an idea, but I never said Rahul Gandhi must walk. However, it is a great thing that Rahul Gandhi decided to do so,” said Chennithala, who has recently led a series of walkathons in Kerala to spread awareness against drug abuse.

Chennithala also said that walking 4,500 km on foot was no small feat. “The [Bharat Jodo] yatra exemplified Rahul Gandhi’s perseverance,” he said, adding that it also marked the emergence of a “new Rahul Gandhi”.

“We could see a Rahul Gandhi who was transformed,” the Congress leader said, noting that after the yatra, one could see him interacting with people from diverse backgrounds, listening to their pain and sharing in their happiness. 

“When we look at it as a whole, we can see a new Rahul Gandhi, equipped with an immense amount of information and experience. He engaged with people from all walks of life,” Chennithala said.