Bhubaneswar, Sept. 7: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will lead a farmers' rally in Bargarh district where eight farmers have reportedly committed suicide this year.

Rahul will be on a two-day visit to the state from Thursday.

Odisha Congress president Prasad Harichandan said Rahul would fly from Delhi to Sambalpur and drive to Debahal in Bargarh on September 10. He would interact with family members of the farmers, who have committed suicide. "Then he will lead a Chashi (farmer) Bachao rally till Attabira. On the way, he will meet local tribal people and women farmers at the Rengali camp," he said.

With stakes high for the Congress in west Odisha, the party is trying to play up the issue.

After a night halt at Burla, Rahul will fly to Cuttack next morning to visit the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Postgraduate Institute of Paediatrics, popularly known as Sishu Bhavan, where more than 60 infants have died within a fortnight, exposing infrastructure deficiencies. The Congress has been trying to corner the state government on the issue.

The party members are enthused as Rahul will also attend the recently formed Congress executive committee meeting on September 11. The Odisha Congress needs a boost following the disastrous 2014 general elections.
To connect with the poor, Rahul will also attend a seminar on social justice on September 11. Before flying back to Delhi, he will also meet representatives of the small investors, whom the sham deposit collection companies have duped, said party sources.

BJD spokesperson Amar Prasad Satpathy said Rahul’s visit would have no impact on the state.