In a significant push to rebuild its political fortunes in Gujarat, the Indian National Congress has successfully concluded the first phase of its 'Jan Akrosh Yatra'. The two-week-long public outreach campaign, which covered a substantial distance across North Gujarat, culminated on Wednesday, December 4, 2025, in Bechraji, Mehsana district.
A Yatra for 'Parivartan' and Public Connect
The yatra, branded with the tagline "parivartan no shankhnaad" (announcement of change), was spearheaded by the state's top Congress leadership. It traversed an impressive 1,100 kilometers across seven districts: Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Gandhinagar, Patan, Mehsana, and began its journey from Dhima in Vav-Tharad. The concluding event saw the presence of senior figures including Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Chavda, Congress Legislative Party leader Tushar Chaudhary, and former Union minister Bharatsinh Solanki. AICC general secretary Sachin Pilot joined via a virtual address.
Senior Congress leaders have asserted that the yatra has resonated deeply with the public, particularly on issues concerning farmers and the illegal trade of liquor and drugs. Gulabhsinh Rajput, the Banaskantha District Congress Committee president and ex-MLA, stated that the outreach has not only connected with citizens who feel aggrieved by the government but has also reinvigorated the party's grassroots workers.
Key Issues Raised and Political Momentum
Throughout the yatra, the Congress strategically focused on a set of core grievances. The party labeled the state government's Rs 10,000 crore relief package for farmers as "insufficient" and renewed its demand for a comprehensive farm loan waiver, citing losses from unseasonal rains. The issue of illegal drugs and liquor was amplified after Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani criticized the Gujarat police, leading the party to target Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi.
Other prominent themes included inflation, unemployment, and demands to scrap the fixed-wage employment policy and contract system. The Congress's performance in the region is crucial, as North Gujarat is considered a relative stronghold; six of the party's 12 current MLAs hail from seats along this yatra's route.
Leaders expressed optimism that this sustained outreach is changing public perception. Kirit Patel, Congress MLA from Patan, noted that the yatra has dispelled the notion that the party is disconnected from people's problems. Looking ahead to the 2027 Assembly elections, Bharatsinh Solanki reminded attendees of the party's 2017 performance of 77 seats, urging unified effort to translate public discontent into electoral success.
The Road Ahead: Four More Phases Announced
Buoyed by the response, the Gujarat Congress has already charted the course for the next stages of the Jan Akrosh Yatra. GPCC chief Amit Chavda announced four more phases that will cover the rest of the state. The second phase will move to Central Gujarat, followed by the third in Saurashtra, the fourth in South Gujarat, and the final phase in the Kutch region.
This extensive campaign underscores the Congress's intent to mount a serious challenge in a state where it has been out of power since 1995. The party's disastrous showing in the 2022 elections, where it won only 17 seats against the BJP's 156, has made this revival effort a critical undertaking. As Baldevji Thakor, Mehsana DCC chief, pointed out, while the Congress's condition is weak, the people's troubles could lead to a result against the BJP in 2027. The upcoming local body polls in April 2026 are now viewed as a key indicator of the momentum this yatra seeks to build.
