Stage set for Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Dehradun today

DEHRADUN: Congress president Rahul Gandhi will herald the election campaign for his party in Uttarakhand by addressing a rally at the Parade Ground on Saturday. The Gandhi scion’s presence in Doon is being considered important by poll watchers especially since his party suffered a humiliating defeat in the state in both the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as well as the 2017 assembly elections.Keeping this fact in mind, Congress leaders are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to ensure a healthy turnout for the rally which is expected to galvanize the party’s supporters in the state.
The Congress chief is expected to reach the rally venue around 12 noon by chopper. His stay at the venue will be around 90 minutes during which he will address the gathering and also induct some new faces into the party.
Although Congress leaders are tight-lipped over the issue, sources say that possibilities are high that Manish Khanduri, son of veteran BJP leader Major Gen (retd) B C Khanduri, and a senior BSP leader would join the Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi.
In order to drum up support for the rally, youth Congress workers took out a bike rally on Friday which was flagged off by state party president Pritam Singh who motivated party workers to make the rally a success, Senior party leader Indira Hridayesh also arrived in Dehradun from Haldwani along with her supporters ahead of the rally. Sources said that former CM Harish Rawat was in Delhi on Friday, but his supporters were involved in making the rally a success.
Meanwhile, Congress state vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana claimed that the rally would be “a historic one.” “Although it is premature to comment on the possible turnout, but I am sure that the rally will be historic and Rahulji’s speech will send a strong message across the country.”
He added, “Although the maximum number of people will be from Dehradun, we are also expecting party supporters from Rishikesh and Haridwar. Besides, students and women representatives are also expected to attend the event.”
On being asked when the party would reveal names of its candidates from Uttarakhand, Dhasmana said that the announcement could come after the Congress chief’s visit. “Our state in-charge has already shortlisted the names and they are likely to be discussed with Rahulji when he is in Dehradun.”