Bengaluru: Congress President Rahul Gandhi would be on a four-day visit in poll-bound Karnataka from Saturday to connect with people through public meetings and group inter-actions, a party leader said on Friday.
“As Gandhi is visiting the state for the first time after becoming party President in December, he wants to meet the people, interact with them and listen to their concerns ahead of the polls in the state,” party leader and lawmaker V.S. Ugrappa told IANS here.
With assembly polls due in late April or early May, the party’s state unit has scheduled a series of public interactions, road-side meetings and public rallies over the next four days in the state’s northern districts of Ballari, Koppal, Yadgir and Kalaburgi.
“Gandhi will inform the people about the policies, programmes and achievements of the state government during the last five years and how the various social welfare schemes have benefitted them,” said Ugrappa.
On arriving at Ballari from Delhi by special flight, Gandhi will address a public meeting at Hospet on Saturday afternoon and meet beneficiaries of Article 371-J under which people from the old Hyderabad-Karnataka region are given employment and seats for education on preference and priority.
He will also visit Huligamma temple in the neighbouring Koppal town and Gavi Siddheswara Lingayat Mutt to meet its head priest. He will address a public meeting at Kukanur near Yelburga in Koppal district in the evening.
“Rahu’s visit to temples, mutts and dargahs is personal and in the tradition of Indira Gandhi who used to do the same, which people respect and admire as their places of worship are considered pious,” said Ugrappa.
On the second day of his visit, Gandhi will travel on road for public receptions at Kushtagi, Kankagiri and Gangavati, followed by a public meeting at Karatagi in Koppal.
“The state unit of the Youth Congress will hold reception for Gandhi at Sindhanoor in the adjacent Raichur district. He will also interact with farmers on Sunday,” said Ugrappa.
On the third day, Gandhi will visit Raichur, Yadgir and Kalaburgi districts for public receptions, participate in a tribal rally at Devadurga in Raichur district, interact with youth and students at Shahpur in Yadgir district, followed by public meetings at Jewargi and Kalaburgi towns.
On the fourth and final day, Gandhi will interact with professionals and business community at Kalaburgi and fly to Basavakalyan by a chopper to visit Anubhava Mantapa in Bidar district.
IANS