The Congress party, in an announcement on Thursday, disclosed that the foot march led by party leader Rahul Gandhi, initially named 'Bharat Nyay Yatra,' has been rechristened as 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.' The march, scheduled to commence on January 14 from Manipur, is slated to traverse 15 states, covering a distance of over 6,700 kilometers and spanning a duration of 66 days.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh elucidated the rationale behind the modification of the yatra's name during a press briefing. The decision was taken at a meeting convened by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, which included party general secretaries, state in-charges, state unit chiefs, and Congress Legislature Party leaders at the party headquarters in Delhi.
Ramesh articulated, "The message passed on by 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' across the country, we will take it forward with the help of this Yatra." Additionally, he highlighted that during this extensive journey, Rahul Gandhi would articulate his perspectives on social, economic, and political justice before the public.
Inviting leaders from the INDIA bloc to participate in the yatra, Ramesh expressed optimism that this march would prove to be as impactful and transformative as the previous 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.
The planned route map for Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' encompasses a diverse geographical terrain, covering 110 districts across 15 states. The yatra will commence in Imphal, the capital of Manipur, and traverse through the northeastern, northern, and central regions, concluding in Maharashtra on March 20.
Emphasizing the significance of Uttar Pradesh in this journey, Ramesh noted that the marchers would spend a considerable duration covering 1,074 kilometers across 20 districts in the state, which boasts 80 Lok Sabha constituencies. Notably, Uttar Pradesh has been a challenging electoral terrain for the Congress, having secured only one Lok Sabha seat in previous elections—Sonia Gandhi from Rae Bareli.
The yatra's itinerary also includes Bihar and Jharkhand, with a coverage of 425 kilometers across seven districts in Bihar and 804 kilometers across 13 districts in Jharkhand.
Ramesh revealed that the yatra, spanning over 6,713 kilometers, would be undertaken using buses and on foot. It aims to cover approximately 100 Lok Sabha seats and 337 assembly segments, reflecting the Congress party's ambition to bridge geographical divides and establish connections with communities on the ground.
