Rahul makes a ruffle in Raje's turfs

Ahead of the polls, breaking the tradition followed by senior leaders, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will travel in the Assembly constituency of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on October 24.

Gandhi, who will be on two-day visit to poll-bound Rajasthan from October 24, will address a mega rally at Jhalawar — the home turf of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and her son Dushyant Singh, who represents this place in the Lok Sabha. Gandhi will also interact with people in a roadshow in Kota followed by a rally in Sikar on October 25.

Before holding a rally in Jhalawar, Gandhi also held a roadshow in Raje's home turf Dholpur earlier this month. Raje in her Gaurav Yatra had skipped Dholpur, but after her yatra got over, Gandhi visited Dholpur in his 100-km long roadshow. But this time Gandhi's visit to Jhalawar is more important especially after Raje witnessed series of protests when her yatra crossed her constituency Jhalrapatan.

While BJP leaders are busy to criticise Gandhi's visit to Jhalawar, the Congress at the same time is confident and busy to make rally a super hit. "Why should we avoid eastern Rajasthan, especially after we know that people have hopes from us and are wanted to listen to Rahul Ji", Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot told DH.

The Hadauti region has Assembly segments spread across Kota (7) and Jhalawar(4). His visit also becomes important as over 100 farmers had committed suicide in this belt. According to political experts, Gandhi's Jhalawar visit becomes important as it has been Raje's turf from last three decades. "Since 1985, she has been contesting from Jhalawar and this time she herself is nervous due to her bad performance. And certainly, Gandhi's visit will make an impact and change the wave of voters", senior political analyst Om Saini told DH.

This will be Rahul Gandhi's second visit to the state within this month and fourth since August.

Congress scared: Raje

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's roadshow in Jhalawar, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje claimed that the Congress is scared of losing in the polls which is why their chief is visiting every Assembly constituency of Rajasthan. While addressing party workers, she added that his visit will in return make BJP stronger in those places.

Raje said Gandhi should give due credit to the BJP for teaching him to visit temples and take blessings from God. "Earlier they (Congress), used to criticise our temple visits. But now their chief has learnt from us as he too visits temples", Raje told party workers.