In a significant departure from its previous edition, the Congress is gearing up to embark on the second edition of Bharat Jodo Yatra, embarking on an ambitious journey covering 1,074 kilometres across Uttar Pradesh.

This strategic move is being viewed as a calculated effort to keep its alliance partner, Samajwadi Party, on edge, potentially influencing the forthcoming seat-sharing negotiations.

Scheduled to unfold over 11 days, the yatra will traverse 20 districts, specifically targeting areas where the Congress secured victories in 21 Lok Sabha constituencies during the 2009 elections. The meticulously chosen route is widely perceived as a means of exerting pressure on allies within the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), with a particular focus on the Samajwadi Party.

Key locations on the route map within Uttar Pradesh include Varanasi, Prayagraj, Amethi, Rae Bareli, Lucknow, Bareilly, Aligarh and Agra. A closer examination reveals a deliberate alignment with the Lok Sabha constituencies that the Congress successfully clinched in the 2009 elections, encompassing significant areas such as Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Bahraich, Barabanki, Pratapgarh, Sultanpur, Amethi, Rae Bareli, Unnao, Dhaurahara, Kheri and Bareilly.

However, the yatra deliberately steers clear of the Bundelkhand and Kanpur regions where the Congress secured only four seats in the parliamentary elections held 15 years ago. This calculated route planning underscores a strategic focus on areas pivotal to the Congress’ historical electoral successes.

The first edition of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, spanning 136 days, was taken out under the INDIA bloc’s umbrella, commencing from Kanyakumari and concluding in Srinagar between September 7, 2022, and January 30, 2023. The yatra’s presence in Uttar Pradesh during the previous edition was limited to entering the state from Loni in Ghaziabad on January 3, passing through Baghpat on January 4, and exiting UP from Kairana (Shamli) to Panipat in Haryana on January 5.

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai highlighted the primary objective of the yatra, saying its goal was to instill hope and fight for justice among the distressed public.

Rai underscored the challenges faced by the people of Uttar Pradesh under the Bharatiya Janata Party rule, emphasising the hardships and distress experienced by the common citizens.

Responding to queries about potential pressure on the Samajwadi Party through the extensive yatra in Uttar Pradesh, covering seats won by the party in 2009, Rai clarified that the yatra transcends mere electoral politics. He described it as a broader initiative to build confidence among the people and inspire faith in the democratic process.

UP Congress general secretary (organisation) Anil Yadav asserted the party’s claim on the seats, predating the yatra planning. He pointed out that in 2009, the Congress secured 21 seats and the Samajwadi Party won 23, making a compelling case for the historical strength of the party in the state.

The yatra, therefore, emerges as a multifaceted effort by the Congress to connect with the public, instill hope, and strategically position itself in the upcoming political landscape.