Bangalore, March 24 (IANS) Congress party general secretary Rahul Gandhi Tuesday begins a five-day trip to Karnataka for a first-hand assessment of the problems faced by people, particularly in tribal and rural areas across the state now getting into election-mode.
Embarking on the second leg of his “discover India” tour after a similar trip to Orissa early this month, Rahul’s first port of call will be the backward district of Chamarajanagar on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border to interact with Soliga tribals at BR Hills, about 220 km from here.
“Rahul wants to connect with the youth of the state. He is keen on studying and understanding various issues and problems confronting youth and students,” Karnataka Youth Congress president Krishna Byre Gowda told IANS here Monday.
As per the itinerary drawn by the state Youth Congress unit, Rahul will reach Bangalore Tuesday morning and fly by helicopter to Chamarajanagar. He will travel by road for a series of meetings with youth and tribals at Yelandur, Santhermaralli, Ummathore, Kavalande and Begur in the district en route to Nagarahole for a night halt.
The next day, Wednesday, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s son will fly to Mangalore from Nagarahole to address a youth gathering. He will Thursday interact with students of NTTF training institute at Dharwad near Hubli, meet cotton farmers and representatives of cooperatives at Gadag. He will also halt at Badami and Ron on way to Bagalkot in north Karnataka for another meeting with weavers and sugarcane cooperative representatives.
“The next day, March 28, Rahul will visit Lambani Thanda village in Bijapur and interact with women from self-help groups. From there, he will go to Raichur for a meeting with party leaders and workers.”
Before returning to Bangalore March 29, he will also visit a village in Raichur district for an assessment of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) and inspect the healthcare facilities at the Rajiv Gandhi super-speciality hospital that was set up with funds from OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) and Saudi Arabia a decade ago.
On the last day of his five-day tour, Rahul will address a youth rally in Bangalore and interact with young professionals. He will also review the party’s preparedness with state Congress leaders for the impending assembly election, which is likely to be held during May and before the six-month president’s rule ends May 20.