Rahul likely to launch Bihar yatra from Sasaram on Aug 17
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Patna: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is likely to launch his Bihar yatra from Sasaram in Rohtas district on Aug 17, ahead of the state assembly polls scheduled in Oct-Nov. Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge will join the yatra on the first day, a party member said.
The final route of the yatra, however, is yet to be finalised. "The yatra will be conducted in three phases probably, with breaks for a few days. The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha will start his yatra from Shahabad and cover Magadh, Mithilanchal and Seemanchal districts in 15-16 days," a Congress member said.
The INDI Alliance leaders, including RJD's Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, will join the yatra as per their convenience.
Rahul is likely to visit Rafiganj via Deo Sun Temple in Aurangabad district on way to Gaya during his yatra. "The detailed programme is being prepared. This yatra is for the rights of voters of Bihar," said the Congress functionary.
The opposition has been targeting the ruling NDA over the just completed special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The Congress has stalled the Parliament proceedings in the ongoing monsoon session over the SIR issue.
Pranav Jha, the All-India Congress Committee's in charge of media committee and political adviser to party president Kharge, alleged on Monday that even dead have been included in the draft rolls. "The EC has been hijacked by the BJP. Congress condemns such a joke in the name of SIR," he said.
Meanwhile, the second phase of yatra is likely to begin from Gaya and, after covering the Mithilanchal and Seemanchal in the third phase, will culminate in Patna where Rahul and other alliance leaders will address a public meeting, a senior Congress leader said.
Before the Bihar yatra, the INDI Alliance leaders are likely to meet at Rahul's residence on Aug 7, when talks on seat sharing may take place, a Congress source said.
Earlier on July 10, Rahul and Tejashwi, along with the leaders of other opposition parties, had taken out a march in Patna against the SIR in Bihar.
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