‘Will play decisive role in Congress rejuvenation’: Sonia Gandhi on Bharat Jodo day 2

The Congress’s mass contact programme – the Bharat Jodo Yatra – will play a decisive role in the rejuvenation of the grand old party, Sonia Gandhi said on Thursday.

Her comments come as party leader and her son, Rahul Gandhi, kicked off the second day of the campaign with a foot march – or ‘Padyatra’ – in Kanyakumari’s Agasteeswaram.

“Bharat Jodo Yatra is a historic moment for the Congress. The Padyatra will play a decisive role in the Congress’ rejuvenation. It is going to be a transformational moment in the history of Indian politics,” the party chief was quoted as saying in a statement. Sonia Gandhi is abroad for a check-up.

“Those who cannot be physically present will participate in the Bharat Jodo Yatra in thought and spirit. Come, let’s take a pledge to move forward united,” she added.

Videos shared on Thursday morning showed Rahul Gandhi – along with other party leaders – taking part in an event to hoist the national flag ahead of the planned foot march.

The 3,700 km-long countrywide foot march – that aims to cover 12 states and two union territories over the next 150 days – was launched on Wednesday amid internal crisis within the Congress. The grand old party has been trying to revive its electoral fortunes ahead of 2024 national elections after facing multiple setbacks since 2014 when the BJP came to power at the Centre.

Last month, veteran leader Ghulam Nabi Azad ended his decades long association with the Congress and his resignation letter had given enough fodder to the rival BJP and Rahul Gandhi, who Azad blamed for the Congress’s current set of challenges. Azad’s exit was followed by the resignation of many other Congress leaders, especially from Jammu and Kashmir.

Despite the internal rift and criticism, Rahul Gandhi has continued his attack on the BJP.

“The RSS-BJP led government is following the old principle of British, divide and rule. Earlier East India Company was doing this and now a handful of businessmen are doing it,” he said on Wednesday. “Today, India faces its worst-ever economic crisis. The highest level of unemployment that we have ever seen and the country is heading into a disaster,” he added.