Sunita Shinde

Pune: Buoyed by the performance of the Congress in the State in the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress, along with other Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners, is eying the State Assembly.

Earlier, it was said that NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar would join the palkhi procession. But now Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is also likely to walk along warkaris in the Palkhi Sohala of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj.

The Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi will start its journey to Pandharpur on June 29. The orgnisers have expected a higher number of warkaris to participate in the procession this year.

With the State Assembly on his mind, there was news that Sharad Pawar would join the palkhi procession. But now Rahul Gandhi may also walk a few kilometres in the procession. Given his experience of walkathons during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and Nyay Yatra, he may cover quite a distance in the wari.

According to the tradition, the Sant Dnyaneshwar Palkhi procession will begin on Sunday (June 29) from the Samadhi Mandir in Alandi. It will stay that day at Darshanbari Mandap in the temple town. On June 30, the procession will arrive in the city and will stay for two days here. Later, the palkhi procession will pass through Saswad, Jejuri, Walhe, Nira, Lonand, Taradgaon, Phaltan, Barad, Natepute, Malshiras and Velapur. On July 16, the procession will reach Pandharpur for the Ashadhi Ekadashi celebrations.

This year, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee is likely to introduce Rahul Gandhi to the wari. The State Assembly polls are likely to take place in October. There is an anti-incumbency atmosphere in Maharashtra. The Maha Yuti has suffered losses in the Lok Sabha elections due to the policies of the State and Central governments, inflation, unemployment, farmers’ distress, etc. To cash in on these sentiments, Rahul Ganhi may take part in the annual procession.

Sources from the Congress said that Rahul Gandhi will walk along with warkaris. He enjoys such interactions with common people. He has proved it during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and Nyay Yatra. Therefore, his walkathon will definitely benefit the MVA, they said.