Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will visit Odisha on July 11 as part of the Congress party’s national ‘Save the Constitution’ campaign. The visit marks his first public outreach in the state after the 2024 general elections.
Gandhi is scheduled to address a public rally at Baramunda Ground in Bhubaneswar, which is expected to draw a significant crowd. The event will also see the presence of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal.
🔹 High-Level Preparations Underway
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das confirmed the high-profile visit during a press briefing on Tuesday. In preparation, the party convened a key meeting of its expanded Political Affairs Committee at the Congress Bhavan in Bhubaneswar, where senior leaders strategised mass mobilisation efforts and coordination mechanisms to ensure the success of the rally.
Party insiders say the rally will underscore the Congress’s message of constitutional protection, social justice, and democratic accountability, especially at a time when they aim to rejuvenate their presence in eastern India.
🔹 Political Context and Recent Criticisms
Rahul Gandhi has been vocal in his criticism of the BJP-led Odisha government, particularly over:
- Rising atrocities against women and Dalits
- The stampede at Puri on June 29, which resulted in three deaths and over 50 injuries
- Alleged mismanagement during the ongoing Rath Yatra festival
The Puri stampede incident has sparked political controversy. Although the state government, under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has ordered a probe and expects a report within 30 days, Congress is expected to intensify its attack on administrative lapses during Gandhi’s rally.
🔹 What’s Expected
The ‘Save the Constitution’ rally is expected to:
- Criticise the BJP’s governance model at the state and central level
- Reaffirm Congress’s commitment to constitutional values and minority rights
- Galvanise support in Odisha, where Congress has struggled to regain past electoral influence
With top Congress leaders uniting on a common platform, the July 11 rally could be a turning point in the party’s Odisha strategy ahead of upcoming civic and state-level elections.
