The Bharat jodo yatra of the Congress crossed into Maharashtra on Monday evening after spending 12 days in Telangana. Congress allies Shiv Sena and NCP are likely to show their presence in the Rahul Gandhi-led Yatra which will begin its Maratha phase from Tuesday. Rahul Gandhi will cover 382 km on foot during his 14-day Maharashtra yatra and will be touring five districts, including Buldhana, Akola, Hingoli and Washim, apart from Nanded. Congress has planned a big rally on November 8 in Nanded on the occasion of Guru Nanak’s Jayanti in the holy city of Sikhs.
Sources confirmed NCP supremo Sharad Pawar , Shiv Sena leaders Aditya Thackeray and Priyanka Chaturvedi are likely to participate in the padyatra.
Last week, Maharashtra Congress in-charge HK Patil, Congress legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat and former CM Ashok Chavan, met Uddhav Thackeray and Pawar inviting them to join the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Sources said that while there is still uncertainty about former Maharashtra CM Udhhav Thackeray joining at any point due to his health conditions, Aditya Thackeray has made up his mind to join Rahul. Shiv Sena leader Sachin Ahir said Aadittya Thackeray is already touring Marathwada and the yatra would also be passing through the region.
“The possibility of Aaditya Thackeray attending the Bharat Jodo Yatra cannot be ruled out. Coincidentally, he is also touring the region (Marathwada) and attempts are being made to see if he can join the padyatra," Ahir, who is also the spokesman of the party, said in Mumbai.
“The idea behind Bharat Jodo Yatra is to bring everyone together and knowingly or unknowingly, people from every section of the society are supporting it. This is to be welcomed if they are coming to Maharashtra,” the Sena leader said. Sources said Priyanaka Chaturvedi, also a former Congress spokesperson, may join the junior Thackeray.
Both the Shiv Sena and Congress are together now in Opposition in the State after the BJP usurped power joining hands with the breakaway faction of the Shiv Sena led by incumbent CM Eknath Shinde.
Both the parties along with NCP are fighting against the Centre’s propelled ED and CBI raids on their leaders including Shiv Sena MP and spokesman Sanjay Raut who continues to be in judicial custody for over a month now.
Pawar too is set to join hands with Rahul in the yatra this week. In case his health doES not permit it, then his daughter and NCP Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule and NCP state unit president Jayant Patil will definitely participate at some point of time.
The party has also invited several political parties including Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, RJD supremo Lalu Yadav, SP leaders from across the states and leaders, organisations to take part in one of the largest movements for unity of the nation.
The Yatra entered Naded in Maharashtra Monday evening after exiting Telangana following an event where President of the Congress' Telangana unit Revanth Reddy handed over the national flag to his Maharashtra counterpart Nana Patole at the border of the two states. Before this a public meeting was organised in Menuru village of Madnoor Mandal in Jukkal Constituency bidding farewell to the yatris which was addressed by Rahul.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra commenced on September 7 from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. Rahul Gandhi completed the marathon walk in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, before entering Telangana.