Taking on the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) government, the Congress party’s State unit on Friday launched the first leg of its Jansangharsh Yatra from Kolhapur in western Maharashtra in preparation for the upcoming general and State elections.
This is the first time that the party has hit the streets in the State on its own. “This is the government of slogans. It cannot do anything other than sloganeering. The Congress is committed to building a fearless state, where people won’t have to beg for their rights but will grab them. We are committed to bringing a political change for the people of this State,” said State party unit chief Ashok Chavan.
The yatra holds importance for the Congress, which has been affected by groupism and infighting, as it has brought all leaders on the same platform. Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, Ashok Chavan, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil and his rival Balasaheb Thorat — all united on Friday to kick-start the yatra.
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The constituency that party MLC Satej Patil lost in 2014, south Kolhapur, witnessed one of the biggest party rallies in recent times by Friday evening.
“This is the true power of the Congress and we need to show the world that we can take on the BJP if we decide to apply full strength. The organizational change in the party is bringing us all together,” said former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.
Addressing the rally, Mr. Vikhe-Patil said, “This Manuvadi government is now threatening people who put up photos of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Mahatma Phule in the house. This is not done. Congress will not allow this to happen. Bahujan samaj will join hands to defeat this government.”
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“This is Shahu-Phule and Ambedkar’s country and we cannot let elements like Sanatan Sanstha take over its secular structure. At a time when the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP is playing divisive politics, Congress is the only party that will keep the nation united,” State in-charge Mallikarjun Kharge said.
The first leg of the yatra is of eight days, in which all districts in western Maharashtra will be covered. In the next phase, the party will cover north Maharashtra on October 2, on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.