Bhubaneswar, Sept. 9: Down in the dumps after a sound drubbing in the last elections, the Congress in Odisha is pinning its revival hopes on the two-day visit of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, beginning tomorrow.

The visit, during which the Gandhi family scion would lead a padyatra against farmers' suicides in Bargarh and take up the issue of mounting infant casualties at Sishu Bhavan in Cuttack comes at a politically opportune time for the Congress with the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government struggling to salvage its image in the wake of a slew of controversies.

State Congress sources said Rahul was keen to lead the padyatra in Bargarh as the cause of the farmers remained close to his heart.

"Congress was once the reigning party in this belt and Rahul wants it to regain that status," said a senior party leader camping in Bargarh to oversee preparations for the visit. All-India Congress Committee secretary Shubhankar Sarkar said Rahul's eagerness to lead the padyatra reflected his concern for the farmers.

"Unlike chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who is shedding crocodile tears for the farmers, Rahulji is sincerely trying to help them," he said.

The Congress leader is scheduled to visit the crisis-hit Sishu Bhavan in Cuttack on Friday to take stock of the prevailing situation at the state's premier paediatric institute that has reported more than 65 deaths in less than a fortnight. Both Congress and the BJP have been trying to corner the government on this issue.

During the past two weeks, politicians of all hues have visited the hospital with Congress demanding the resignation of both the chief minister and the health minister despite an expert committee having given a clean chit to the doctors at the institute.

As the Congress sought to step up pressure on the government on the twin issues of farmers' suicide and Sishu Bhavan deaths ahead of Rahul's visit, former minister and BJD spokesperson P.K. Deb lambasted the Opposition for trying to politicise the issue for short-term gains. "The government has already addressed the problems of farmers while infrastructure deficiencies at Sishu Bhavan are being taken care of. The Opposition's bid to tarnish our image will not succeed," said Deb, adding that Rahul's visit would have no impact on state politics.

Security was tightened in Bargarh and Cuttack ahead of Rahul's visit given his status as a Special Protection Group (SPG) protectee. Deputy inspector-general of police, northern range, Prateek Mohanty said SPG guidelines were being followed in organising the security cover for the Congress vice-president who will reach Bargarh via Jharsuguda tomorrow.

In Cuttack, a four-member SPG team and senior police officials today reviewed arrangements for Rahul's visit to Sishu Bhavan, which is crowded almost at all times of the day. Sources said the leader may also take the opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of freedom fighters at Swaraj Bhavan, a major landmark in the city where Mahatma Gandhi had spent two days during his first visit to the state in 1921.

Additional reporting by Vikash Sharma in Cuttack and Subrat Mohanty in Bargarh