KOTA: In what is seen as a rebuff to CM Ashok Gehlot faction, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has decided to skip the 24km Kota city leg of his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra on Thursday, creating a stir among local party workers and residents.
The decision is seen as 'punishment' for the recent rebellion, led by UDH minister and Gehlot loyalist Shanti Dhariwal, against the party's high command over change in leadership in the state. Dhariwal represents the Kota North assembly constituency. A scheduled press conference at the constituency has also been cancelled.
As per the 'revised' schedule, Rahul will march through Rangpura Road on the fourth day of the yatra to Bundi on Thursday, giving Kota city a miss.
To welcome the historical march, Kota was decked up with hoardings of Rahul, Gehlot and other party leaders the day it was to enter the coaching city. Workers were engaged in giving final touches by cleaning roads and painting walls. Rahul was originally scheduled to march 24km through the city on Thursday morning from 6am. He was to take a lunch break at Ummed Singh Stadium in Nayapura and expected to have an interaction with students of coaching institutes.
As Rahul had raised the slogan 'Jai Siyaram', some local party leaders, including Rakhi Gautam, had hung banners with the slogan to welcome the leader. Party workers in the city were noticeably disappointed when they came to know about the 'change' in the schedule. "It would have been pleasant and boosted the spirit of local party workers if he had stayed in Kota for lunch break," said ex-PCC member Kranti Tiwari.
Coaching institute managements, who were earlier informed about Rahul's possible interaction with students, have also not received any further communication in this regard, said an official with a coaching institute.
Replying to a question in Kota if the party was punishing minister Dhariwal for not attending the CLP meeting and holding a parallel one of MLAs loyal to Gehlot at his residence recently, Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said the decision had nothing to do with it.
"It's not a conspiracy, there is no politics and changes were made in the schedule in other states too due to last minute issues," he said.
State coordinator of the yatra, Kapil Yadav said, "Yatra will not enter Kota city and march to Bundi from outside the city. The two stops for the yatra from Kota Jagpura to Gudli railway station in Bundi have not yet been finalised."
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