Rahul Gandhi walks Vikas Khoj Yatra in Bardoli

Bardoli, 8 February 2014

Congress party’s national vice president, and undeclared PM candidate Rahul Gandhi today walked Vikas Khoj Yatra at Bardoli in south Gujarat. He walked about 3 km distance. He was surrounded by security men. The Youth Congress leader walking with Rahul was telling something to Rahul, however Rahul was not just looking at him and not responding. Rahul briefly spoke to Dipak Babadiya. Shankersinh Vaghela, Arjun Modhwadia were seen walking at some distance. Rahul later went to meet local cooperative leaders here before delivering address.

Tribal dominated Bardoli Lok Sabha seat in South Gujarat is represented by Congress leader and minister of state in centre Dr. Tushar Chaudhary for last three terms. As Narendra Modi is PM candidate, Congress is facing serious challenge to retain its seats. Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Rahul’s presence here is strategic in this regard, because even Valsad seat in south Gujarat is with Congress at present.

Vikas Khoj Yatra was kicked off at Satyagraha Ashram in Ahmedabad on 18 January. It is scheduled to conclude on 9 February at Swaraj Ashram in south Gujarat. The 23-day long yatra passed through 9 Lok Sabha seat areas, four of them represented by Congress party at present. Total route of yatra is 500 km.

The idea of yatra was to communicate to people and ground check of state government’s claims of development.