The District Congress is gearing up to welcome All India Congress Committee General Secretary and Youth Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who will be visiting the City for the first time on March 26. The DCC netas and activists gathered in full strength in their office here on Saturday to discuss about the elaborate arrangements to be made for the occasion.

Addressing press persons on the sidelines of the party workers meeting, DCC President B Ramanath Rai said Mr Rahul Gandhi would be in Mangalore between 11 am and 5 pm on March 26 and interact with different sections of the society, apart from party activists.

Mr Gandhi will address a cross-sectional group of students in the beginning, wherein selected student delegates from different colleges will take part. Later, he will meet fishermen community and have an interaction with them at 2 pm. Finally, he would address party workers in a massive convention, Mr Rai explained.

Programme

Mr Gandhi will have an interaction with students at 12 pm and a visit to fishermen’s village at 2.45 pm. His other programmes of the day are, a public meeting at 4.30 pm and an interaction with party workers at 7 pm, informed a press release.

Venues unknown

However, the venues of all events may be finalised only by Sunday evening. The party workers convention may be convened at Nehru Maidan or Mangala Stadium, Mr Rai informed.

Mr Gandhi would announce a number of unique schemes with the objective of attracting students and youth to the party on the occasion.

He will also inaugurate 20 counters for registration of members into the party, where free registration facility will be offered. Call centre and SMS facilities have already been launched for the Youth Congress members, he added.

Senior leaders M Veerappa Moily and B Janardhana Poojary have discussed about the arrangements with the DCC leaders.  Union Minister Oscar Fernandes will join the team on Sunday, the DCC chief said.

Meanwhile, KPCC President Mallikarjun Kharge would hold a meeting with the local leaders in the party office on Sunday at 1 pm.

Party leaders K Tejomaya, Ivan D’Souza, Suresh Ballal, Moideen Bava, Bondala Jagannatha Shetty among others were present.