Bhubaneswar, July 11: Hectic preparations are on at the state Congress headquarters here for the proposed two-day visit of AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi to the state commencing from July 13.
Party leaders were hoping that Rahul’s visit would help woo the youths, especially in the tribal areas. Out of his five programmes dedicated to the youth, three will be held in tribal dominated Nowrangpur, Jharsuguda and Mayurbhanj districts.
AICC leader in charge of Orissa affairs Jagdish Tytler has been camping here since yesterday to oversee the arrangements for Rahul’s visit.
Tytler has gone to Mayurbhanj and Bhadrak districts today to supervise the preparations for Rahul’s programmes in Bhadrak and Udala in Mayurbhanj district.
Similarly, AICC secretary Vinay Sorke has arrived in Jharsuguda to monitor the arrangements for Rahul’s scheduled programme there. AICC secretary Mirja Irsad Baig has also gone to Udala to oversee the preparations for the youth leader’s programme there.
Speaking to The Telegraph, state Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik said Rahul would attend programmes at five places (Jharsuguda, Kotapad, Udala, Khurda and Bhadrak) exclusively meant to attract the youths. “He will interact with the youths and call upon them to join the Youth Congress,” said Patnaik.
On July 14, Rahul is scheduled to address a public meeting in the state capital. “A good turn out is expected at the Bhubaneswar rally,” said the PCC chief who was supervising arrangements for Rahul’s programmes.
A preparatory meeting was held at the party’s state headquarters here today, which was attended by senior leaders of Bhubaneswar and neighbouring organisational districts, said Pradesh Congress chief spokesman Arya Kumar Gyanendra.
Rahul, who is in charge of party’s youth and students’ wings, has been making efforts to woo the youths to the party fold. Last year, he had attended several programmes organised in Cuttack and Berhampur exclusively for students and youths and interacted with the delegates.
The party is also making efforts to regain its eroded tribal vote bank in the state. A few months ago, the Congress high command had nominated tribal leader and Rajya Sabha member Susila Tiria to the all-important Congress Working Committee.
In a bid to regain the tribal vote bank, Rahul had come out openly supporting the struggle by the Dangaria Kandh tribals to save Niyamgiri Hills from the onslaught of the Vedanta bauxite mines project.
Addressing the “victory rally” in Lanjigarh in August last year after the Union ministry of environment and forests withdrew clearance to Niyamgiri bauxite mining project, Rahul had described himself as a sipahi fighting for their cause. However, the ruling Biju Janata Dal leaders said they were not perturbed over Rahul’s visit. “His visit will have no impact on the youths of the state,” said Sanjay Das Burma, president of BJD youth wing.
Incidentally, the first state executive meeting of the recently revamped BJD youth wing is scheduled to be held here tomorrow, ahead of Rahul’s visit.
