The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) is all set to welcome the ‘Bharat Jodi Yatra’ led by former All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Rahul Gandhi in Kerala with the slogan ‘Mile Kadam, Jude Watan’ . India)
The Congress party has completed all preparations to welcome the 3,500-km-long march that entered Kerala on Saturday night. The state’s traditional art forms and rhythm bands will welcome Mr. Gandhi and his pedestrians, or those accompanying him, through a long journey across the country. People from several parties from Kerala will join the padyatra.
The padyatra started from Kanyakumari on 7th September. By Saturday night, the yatra will reach Cheruvarkonam, Parasala, located on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. KPCC President K. Sudhakaran, MP, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, AICC General Secretary Tariq Anwar, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, former Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, UDF Convenor MM Hassan, Bharat Jodi Yatra State Coordinator Kodikkunnil Suresh and other Congress leaders. On Sunday mornings gather at Parsala to welcome the Yatra. AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal has joined the padyatra from Kanyakumari itself.
This march will cross seven districts of the state. From Thiruvananthapuram to Thrissur, the yatra will go through the National Highway and from Thrissur to Nilambur, it will travel on state roads. Party workers and people from districts who are not on the padyatra route will also join the march.
The yatra will be on the road from 7 am to 11 am and 4 pm to 7 pm, the time between which Mr Gandhi will use to interact with youth, party people, farmers and workers from different walks of life.
There are 300 pedestrians in the march and the Congress party in the state is making arrangements for their food and accommodation. This yatra will run for 19 days in Kerala.
The KPCC has formed subcommittees to prepare a list of people who want to interact with Mr. Gandhi, organize campaigns and ensure that the padyatra does not disrupt public life and that there are no legal issues.
A 24-hour control room has been set up at KPCC Headquarters. Reception committees are functioning in all the districts.
A statement issued by the KPCC said the Yatra is receiving a “very emotional response” from the people.
The help and cooperation of the state police chiefs and district administrators have been sought so that increasing public participation does not lead to traffic jams. The KPCC has also appealed to the police to ensure that traffic restrictions are further communicated to the public.
The yatra will take place in Thiruvananthapuram district from September 11-14. It will enter Kollam district on the afternoon of September 14. From September 17-20, the march will be via Alappuzha. It will pass through Ernakulam on 21-22 September, Thrissur on 23-25 September and Palakkad on 26-27 September.
The Yatra will enter Karnataka from 28-29 September via Malappuram district and via Gudallur in Tamil Nadu.