RLD Fallout Effect? Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra To Skip Western UP Districts, Cut Short Amid INDI Alliance Discord

The Uttar Pradesh leg of senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is set to be shortened by several days, with party insiders indicating that the march will likely conclude at least a week earlier than originally planned, as per a report by The Indian Express.

Originally, the yatra was intended to begin its Uttar Pradesh segment this week, spending 11 days in the politically crucial state with 80 Lok Sabha seats, where the Congress has struggled in recent elections.

In Uttar Pradesh, the yatra was scheduled to traverse through 28 Lok Sabha constituencies, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency Varanasi, Rae Bareli, Amethi, Allahabad, Phulpur, and Lucknow. The initial route covered areas such as Chandauli, Varanasi, Jaunpur, Allahabad, Bhadohi, Pratapgarh, Amethi, Rae Bareli, Lucknow, Hardoi, Sitapur, Bareilly, Moradabad, Rampur, Sambal, Amroha, Aligarh, Badaun, Bulandshahr and Agra.

However, the yatra will now skip most of the western districts of Uttar Pradesh, opting instead to travel directly from Lucknow to Aligarh and then to Agra in the west, before entering Madhya Pradesh.

Notably, the Congress's ally, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which holds significant sway in western Uttar Pradesh, is reportedly in discussions with the BJP about joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Despite speculations, Congress sources insist that the decision to truncate the yatra in Uttar Pradesh is unrelated to the political developments involving the RLD.

"Our intention is to slow down the yatra to allow Rahul Gandhi ample time for interactions with various groups along the way," a party leader has stated.

As part of the adjustments, the yatra, initially planned to conclude in Mumbai by 20 March, is now anticipated to end between 10 and 14 March, affording more time for Gandhi to campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

There are also indications that AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has yet to join the yatra, might make an appearance as it enters Uttar Pradesh.

Additionally, the INDI Alliance, comprising various political parties, has decided to organise its first joint rally later this month in Karnataka.

However, the alliance faces challenges following the departure of Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) and the decisions of the Trinamool Congress and Aam Aadmi Party to contest independently in West Bengal and Punjab.

The potential exit of the RLD further complicates matters.

The Congress plans to extend invitations to all its INDIA partners for a rally marking the culmination of the yatra in Mumbai next month.