Raj Cong readying stage for Rahul's return as party chief

The Congress leaders in Rajasthan are gearing up to give a rousing reception to Rahul Gandhi on his arrival here on January 28 to address a rally against the new citizenship law (CAA).

However, the party is also preparing to make the visit a precursor to a new beginning to get him re-anointed as the party president in February.

Gandhi would address anti-CAA rally, said AICC General Secretary and state in-charge Avinash Pandey. The visit would not remain limited to that and he would also focus on other burning issues, like unemployment, economic crisis, farm distress and atrocities on students and youths, he added.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, Pandey along with several Ministers reviewed arrangements at the Vidhyadhar Stadium, the venue of Gandhi's rally.

On Monday, Gehlot said Gandhi would be addressing concern of students and youth who were fighting the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government's anti-people policies.

Stating that the Jaipur visit could open a new chapter, a senior Congress leader told IANS, Gandhi was made the party vice-president here in 2013, which infused a spark into the party's youth workers.

In August 2019, Gandhi kicked off poll campaign in Rajasthan and the party snatched power from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He had addressed party activists from all the 33 Rajasthan districts, which boosted their confidence.

"There are in-house discussions on bringing Rahul Gandhi back as the party president and give Priyanka Gandhi Vadra the task of reviving the party in UP," said a Congress leader.

Rahul will be kicking off a series of anti-Narendra Modi rallies from here.IANS