Rahul Gandhi to launch month-long 'Mahayatra' in UP

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will launch a month-long Mahayatra in Uttar Pradesh covering 39 districts from September 6, the Congress announced on Monday.

Giving details of the Mahayatra, Congress General Secretary and state in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad said it would start from Rudrapur in the state's Deoria district and would culminate in Delhi.

"Rahul Gandhi would cover 2,500 km by road, traversing through 39 districts, covering 55 Lok Sabha constituencies and 223 assembly seats," he said.

Although Azad did not give a specific time-frame for its conclusion, he said it would take almost a month, with one or two short breaks in between.

"It would not be a continuous yatra, there would be short breaks in between. In all, there should be 20-25 working days," he said.

He said that during the programme, Rahul would meet farmers and unorganised sector workers.

There would be roadshows in small and big towns along the way but no large public meeting, Azad said.

He also did not reveal the names of the 39 districts to be covered.

There have been speculations about Gandhi going to Ayodhya, but the Congress refused to either confirm or deny it.

The state Congress leaders and the state coordination committee members are already doing separate yatras in Uttar Pradesh, which Azad said would go on as per their schedule.

--IANS

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