The Manipur to Mumbai Bharat Nyay Yatra that former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will lead, won’t solely cowl 6,200 km, however move by way of 14 States that ship as many as 355 members to the Lok Sabha. 

Starting in strife-torn Manipur within the east, the yatra can be largely lined on a personalized rath-like bus with about 5 to seven padayatras on daily basis, and finish in Mumbai within the west. The 65-day yatra can be flagged off by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge from Imphal on January 14 and finish on March 20 in Mumbai.

Though the precise route and itinerary is but to be finalised and can be made public solely on January 8, the yatra may concentrate on the essential Hindi heartland State of Uttar Pradesh, the place the yatris might spend near every week and journey extensively.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) had barely lined U.P. for 3 days. But now, with the BJP anticipated to construct a robust political narrative after the January 22 consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, the Bharat Nyay Yatra is anticipated to spend extra time within the State and search to counter the ruling celebration on the plank of social justice, reminiscent of demanding caste census and promising higher rights to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) proportionate to their numbers in society.

The celebration’s OBC outreach, nevertheless, has to keep in mind its plans to achieve out to the tribal neighborhood, that’s stated to have voted considerably in favour of the BJP within the latest Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Many have argued that the emphasis on OBCs might have been one of many components for the tribal vote to gravitate in direction of the BJP. All these three States at the moment are being lined by the Congress’ yatra politics. So, because the yatra passes by way of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the celebration will search to steadiness the narrative.

The second version of yatra politics may also cowl West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Gujarat, that weren’t lined by the BJY. The Congress management had been sharply criticised for not overlaying Gujarat in BJY particularly when Assembly election was due within the State when the yatra was on.  

The yatra additionally covers States the place the celebration is a part of an alliance and should select to painting an image of Opposition unity to tackle the BJP. However, that’s prone to depend upon how easily the events can work out the seat-sharing preparations.

The Congress is a part of the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in Bihar with Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). It has a tie-up with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and RJD in Jharkhand and is a part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) with National Congress Party and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) in Maharashtra.

“The State units will always have concerns but the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance [INDIA] is a national alliance and national factors take precedence over State concerns,” a senior Congress chief stated.