Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address his party’s Jan Akansha (people’s expectation) rally at the historic Gandhi Maidan here on Sunday.
“It is going to be a historic rally, the likes of which have not been seen in the recent past in Bihar …the rally will surpass all the rallies held in the past at Gandhi Maidan. It will be huge, with not less than five lakh people attending it,” said Rajya Sabha member Akhilesh Singh, who is also chairing the Congress campaign committee in Bihar.
Shaktisinh Gohil, who is in charge of the party in Bihar; State president Madan Mohan Jha; Prem Chandra Mishra, MLC; and other leaders have been touring several districts to promote the rally. Mr. Gohil on Friday declared that Bihar would be relieved of recurring floods with the Congress at the Centre. “We do what we promise,” Mr. Gohil said. Sources said Mr. Gandhi would blow the bugle of the Lok Sabha election campaign in the northern States, at the rally.
Big arrangements
All party leaders and lawmakers have reportedly been asked to invite at least 5,000 people to the venue. Independent MLA Anant Singh, who aspires to contest the Munger seat on Congress ticket, has held roadshows and public meetings. “I’ll bring so many people that the whole Gandhi Maidan will be filled… there will be a sea of humans at the rally ground,” he said.
Grand alliance leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Sharad Yadav and Mukesh Sahni, are expected to attend.
Ahead of the rally, Rishi Kumar Mishra, MLC, left the ruling Janata Dal(U) and joined the Congress on Saturday, saying that it had become untenable for him to continue in a party in alliance with the BJP. “For the past 18 months, I have been living in suffocation,” Mr. Rishi said, after joining the party in the presence of Mr. Jha.
The State administration has made elaborate arrangements for the rally.