In what can be seen as a move to assess election preparedness in Maharashtra for the upcoming Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit Nagpur and Pune in the last week of this month.
This would be his second visit to the state after the interaction with office-bearers of Mumbai held in March. He is likely to interact with the office-bearers of both the divisions again.
According to sources, Mr Gandhi is expected to visit Nagpur and Pune on September 24 and 25, respectively. The object of the two-day visit is specifically to interact with office-bearers of the party.
“The party vice-president is supposed to come to the state soon. However, the proposed visit is yet to be finalised,” state Congress president Manikrao Thakre maintained.
Maharashtra plays a crucial role in the Lok Sabha elections as it has 48 constituencies. In 2009, out of its current tally of 203 seats in the Lok Sabha, the Congress had won 17 seats from the state alone.
In March too, Mr Gandhi had held district-wise meetings exclusively for Mumbai, which were attended by the district presidents, three elected district vice-presidents, one elected treasurer and all block presidents, MLAs, MLCs, MPs, municipal councilors and all candidates who contested MLA elections the last time.
“During his last visit, Mr Gandhi had a direct conversation with the office-bearers to understand the actual scenario of the party in every aspect like election preparations and the sense of party cadres. It boosts the spirit of the party workers. This visit will cover his interaction with all the office-bearers from the rest of state,” said a senior party functionary.
Earlier, Mr Gandhi was to come on a two-day visit during May as part of his feedback meetings with workers and office bearers on the party’s prospects in Lok Sabha elections. The interactions were to take place in Pune, but were cancelled at the last minute due to unknown reasons. Later, he again planned to visit some drought-hit areas; however, that one-day visit, too, was called off.