The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra (BJNY) led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to make its entry into Maharashtra on March 12th, commencing from Nandurbar and concluding at Mumbai's Dadar, home to the revered Chaityabhoomi where B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, was laid to rest, as informed by party officials on Monday.
Embarking on its journey from Manipur on January 15th, the BJNY has covered a remarkable distance of 6,700 kilometers, traversing through 110 Lok Sabha constituencies spanning across 15 states. The voyage will reach its zenith with a public rally scheduled for March 17th at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park in Mumbai, graced by prominent leaders of the national Opposition INDIA bloc.
A pivotal moment of the Yatra will be its formal conclusion at Chaityabhoomi, officially recognized as the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Mahaparinirvan Memorial, housing his bust alongside a statue of Lord Buddha. This sacred site draws pilgrims every year on December 6th, commemorated as 'Mahaparinirvan Day'.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park holds historical significance, having hosted significant meetings and gatherings during the British colonial era and post-Independence period, witnessing the convergence of leaders from various political factions.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is slated to be one of the keynote speakers at the INDIA bloc public gathering, marking the formal inauguration of the unified campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
It's noteworthy that former Congress President Sonia Gandhi addressed a massive rally at the same venue on December 28th, 2003, commemorating the Congress' foundation anniversary, preceding the 2004 parliamentary elections that saw the UPA, led by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, ascend to power.
The BJNY initiative was announced by Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in Nagpur on December 27th, 2023, on the eve of the Congress' 139th anniversary, in the presence of senior party leaders. On Monday, a delegation comprising senior Congress leaders, including AICC Secretary Ashish Dua, Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar, Congress Legislature Party Leader Balasaheb Thorat, Mumbai unit party chief Varsha Gaikwad, and others, met Director-General of Police Rashmi Shukla, seeking adequate security arrangements for Rahul Gandhi's statewide journey and the forthcoming mega-rally on March 17th.
The Maharashtra unit of the party, spearheaded by President Nana Patole and Working President M. Arif Naseem Khan, along with former Chief Ministers Sushilkumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan, is diligently finalizing the BJNY route within the state and organizing the public meeting at CMS Park, with other leaders overseeing the event preparations.
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