Gandhis on dais, Congress plans historic rally in city

Nagpur: The mega Congress rally in Nagpur to mark the 139th foundation day of the grand old party will be historic. “We will give a strong reply to BJP on Sangh turf,” said former chief minister Ashok Chavan. On Tuesday, several senior party leaders, including Chavhan, Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar and MPCC president Nana Patole, visited the Azad Maidan venue to oversee preparations.
It would be the first time in Maharashtra that three Gandhis — Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul and daughter Priyanka — would be together in Nagpur.Prominent leaders like party president Mallikarjun Kharge and 247 prominent politicians, most MPs and about 300 of the 600 MLAs are likely to attend the rally. The party is expecting 10 lakh people from across the region.

“The present BJP government has failed to solve core citizen problems, including unemployment, inflation and farmers' suicides and provide relief to citizens,” Chavan said.
“With this rally, we want to give a strong message to the BJP-led Central government. Hence, Nagpur city has been chosen for the rally,” Chavan said, adding the party has already coined the slogan "Hai Tayyar Hum" (We are ready), which makes its intentions clear.
Meanwhile, Youth Congress activists led by state president Kunal Raut and national general secretary Bunty Shelke launched a bike rally from Samvidhan Square to Devdiya Bhavan, Congress party office in Nagpur, to create awareness on the mega rally.
Ahead of the rally, traffic police headed by deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Chetna Tidke issued a traffic advisory on Tuesday, which will be in force from 8 am to 9 pm on Thursday. Vehicles, two-wheelers, cars and autos traveling from Nagpur to Umred will have to pass through Chamat Chakki Chowk near Mhalgi Nagar Chowk and then enter Pipla Road. Similarly, vehicles coming from Umred will be diverted via Mhalgi Nagar Chowk from Khurd bridge.
Traffic restrictions will be in place for movement of heavy vehicles on Ring Road. The notification will not apply to emergency service vehicles and school buses.