Bharat Jodo Yatra: Priyanka Gandhi joins Rahul Gandhi, Congress jubilant
What's the story
The Congress turned euphoric on Thursday after Rahul Gandhi was joined by his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) for the first time. Her husband Robert Vadra, son Raihan Vadra, and several other top leaders also joined the BJY for its Madhya Pradesh leg. "Our steps will be stronger when we walk together," the party tweeted.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The Congress's ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY)—spearheaded by Gandhi and launched in September 2022—is its largest public outreach in decades from Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari to Jammu & Kashmir's Srinagar. Several activists and celebrities have shown support for the BJY by walking alongside Gandhi. The party says the cross-country march is aimed at encouraging communal harmony, discouraging hatred, and seeking resolutions to many other issues.
Details
BJY gets new energy: MP Congress Seva Dal
Priyanka, the Congress's Uttar Pradesh general secretary, reached Indore on Wednesday and joined the BJY on Thursday morning. Soon after, Congress's official Twitter handle posted in Hindi, "Our steps will be stronger when we walk together." The MP Congress Seva Dal also expressed its happiness, saying Priyanka's participation will bring new energy to the Bharat Jodo Yatra, reported The Indian Express.
Twitter Post
Congress overjoyed as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joins BJY
मजबूत होंगे कदम, जब मिलकर चलेंगे हम।#BharatJodoYatra में @RahulGandhi जी के कंधे से कंधा मिलाने पहुंची @priyankagandhi जी। pic.twitter.com/KrexLPRdfM
— Congress (@INCIndia) November 24, 2022
Information
Some important details about BJY
On September 7, the BJY set sail from Kanyakumari. And on Wednesday, it arrived in Madhya Pradesh after completing its leg in neighboring Maharashtra. Gandhi was greeted by various Congress members waving the tricolor flag. Nana Patole, head of the Maharashtra Congress, handed over the tricolor to his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Kamal Nath to officially kick off the 12-day yatra in the central state.
Schedule
BJY will enter trouble-torn Rajasthan next
As per reports, the Gandhi-led BJY will next travel to Rajasthan, where the Congress is facing serious difficulties amid the rivalry between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and senior leader Sachin Pilot. Pilot—who also joined the BJY in MP—allegedly organized a coup that almost toppled the Congress-led government in Rajasthan in 2020. However, he has been blaming the BJP for the trouble in the state.
Twitter Post
Watch: Live visuals of Congress's Yatra
LIVE: Bharat Jodo Yatra | Borgaon to Chegaon Makhan | Khandwa | Madhya Pradesh https://t.co/I4fJLalJGH— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 24, 2022