Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is scheduled to visit Odisha on July 11 as part of the Congress party’s national campaign.
Gandhi is expected to attend a public rally called ‘Save the Constitution’ to be held at the Baramunda Ground in Bhubaneswar. Mallikarjun Kharge, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) President, and K.C. Venugopal, Party General Secretary (Organisation), will attend the rally with the Congress leader.
Bhakta Charan Das, president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), confirmed these details on Tuesday.
Ahead of Gandhi’s visit to the eastern state, the Congress party held a crucial meeting of its expanded Political Affairs Committee at the Congress Bhavan in Bhubaneswar.
Senior party leaders and strategists discussed detailed plans to ensure the grand success of Gandhi’s rally.
PCC leaders stressed the need for strong coordination and mass mobilisation to effectively convey the message of Congress and the national importance of the ‘Save the Constitution’ campaign. This will be Gandhi’s first visit to Odisha since the 2024 general elections.
Meanwhile, Gandhi has criticised the state BJP government several times during the past year, highlighting issues like the “rising cases” of atrocities against women and Dalits.
Gandhi also condemned the state government following the Puri stampede on June 29, which resulted in three deaths and 50 injuries.
Meanwhile, the state government has ordered an investigation into the Puri stampede incident and an inquiry report in this regard will be submitted to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi within 30 days.
During their visit, the senior Congress leaders are also likely to criticise the state government for its alleged failure to address recent incidents of sexual abuse and the “mismanagement” during the ongoing Rath Yatra festival at Puri.
