NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi would visit Andhra Pradesh as part of his tours, his state post-sabbatical first venture there after a fork, some believe, Congress turned into a villain in the state, which in assembling and cover Lok Sabha elections.
The vice-president of the Congress will be in Ananthpur on July 24, which would undertake a 10 km long padyatra and maintain interaction in three villages with farmers in distress, the MGNREGA workers get jobs and self-help groups.
The day tour to the Rayalaseema region, home to the former Congress mascot Rajasekhara Reddy YS, try to repair the fortunes of the party after its destruction after Telangana. Once the first-class team in AP, Congress was squeezed between sentiment and anti-bifurcation Jaganmohan Reddy’s rebellion after the death of YSR. Now, the organization is virtually nonexistent.
The situation is so bleak that the current membership drive has stopped flying in the state comprising Rayalaseema and coastal regions.
Rahul’s visit would at best have the salutary effect of showing the concern of the leaders of the unity of the state. There is a recognition within that back in contention is an uphill task for Congress.
The sources said Rahul choose another time to visit the coastal region, attributed his absence at the start of the Pushkar festivals.
Rahul arrive in Andhra Tamil Nadu. He is scheduled to address a public rally in Tiruchirappalli July 23.
The Congress is a peripheral figure in the Dravidian politics for decades and has been alternating between DMK and AIADMK as partners in the elections. Recently, he suffered a setback when GK Vasan left the party to launch his own team.
