In a course correction, the Congress is planning to cut short its Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The party has already finalised its plan to curtail the Uttar Pradesh leg of the journey by four days. Earlier, it had planned on spending 11 days in the State; it would now be only seven days, with the yatra giving the western districts a miss.
According to sources, the decision was prompted by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who urged senior leader Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the yatra, to return to the capital at the earliest, in time for the Lok Sabha polls.
Mr. Kharge was of the opinion that the entire Congress machinery was far too focused on the yatra rather than preparing for the 2024 electoral battle, sources said. Party’s general secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal and general secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh have been following Mr. Gandhi for most of the yatra, putting electoral preparations out of gear.
