Congress gets into poll position, begins Jan Sangharsh Yatra

The Congress march will be supported by its traditional ally Nationalist Congress Party, said Congress leaders.

Launching a fresh attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government, the Congress party on Friday initiated its Jan Sangharsh Yatra to be held in phases over the next three months. The Yatra will aimed at questioning the BJP about various issues such as agrarian crisis, unrest among various communities over reservation, and rising debt.

AICC General Secretary incharge of Maharashtra Mallikarjun Kharge, MPCC President Ashok Chavan, former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and other leaders during launch of the party's 'Jan Sangharsh Yatra' campaign in Kolhapur on Friday, Aug 31, 2018. (PTI Photo)

The first leg began on Friday in Kolhapur. They will now march to villages and tehsils across districts in Western Maharashtra, before the Yatra culminates in Pune on September 7. All India Congress Committee and Maharashta in-charge general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge, state Congress chief Ashok Chavan and key state leaders participated in the rally held at an auditorium in Kolhapur.

“Nobody in the state is happy as Fadnavis has been making promises over last four years, but none have been kept. Our rallies will deal with areas where the government has failed, such as farmer loan waivers and reservation demands by various communities,” said Chavan.

The recent arrest of human rights activist by the Maharashtra police and unrest among the dalits over the Bhima Koregaon violence will also be addressed. Kharge attacked the BJP government for allegedly supporting radical Hindu groups such as Sanatan Sanstha. The Congress is also expected to woo the Maratha community, its traditional voter base in western Maharashtra.

“The party leadership believes the political atmosphere is changing rapidly. Rahul Gandhi is expected to join the Yatra in its second phase in Faijpur, Ahmednagar. Other national leaders including Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Gulab Nabi Azad may join too,” the party leader said.

The Congress march will be supported by its traditional ally Nationalist Congress Party, said Congress leaders.