Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set for a visit to the scenic Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, where he will participate in a school's anniversary event without any political rallies on his agenda.
Schedule and Details of the Gudalur Visit
Rahul Gandhi will arrive by helicopter from Mysuru at 3:30 PM on January 13. His sole public engagement is the golden jubilee celebration of St Thomas English High School in Gudalur. He is scheduled to depart from the town by 4:30 PM the same day.
Congress functionaries have clarified that the leader has no political events or public meetings planned during this brief stopover. A reception hosted by local party members at the helipad is the only other item on his itinerary.
This marks Gandhi's first return to Gudalur since his Bharat Jodo Yatra passed through in September 2022. During that previous visit, he had praised the town's natural beauty in the Western Ghats and stayed overnight at a private school before proceeding to Karnataka.
Distinguished Gathering and Political Context
The school event will also see the participation of Rev Dr Mathews Mar Makarios Episcopa, the Metropolitan of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. The visit occurs against a backdrop of political discussions within the DMK-Congress alliance in Tamil Nadu.
Some Congress functionaries and elected representatives have recently been vocal about seeking a greater share in governance and have criticized the BJP regarding controversies around film censorship, notably linked to actor Vijay's movie "Jana Nayagan."
Upcoming Delhi Meeting on Poll Preparedness
In related developments, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi are likely to meet Tamil Nadu Congress leaders in Delhi on January 18. The meeting will include the TNCC president, former presidents, and elected representatives from the state.
The agenda is centered on discussions about preparedness for the upcoming elections. A senior leader indicated that this meeting follows the tradition of holding consultations with representatives from poll-bound states in the national capital. It was originally planned for January 14 before being rescheduled.
