Rahul Gandhi kicks off Maharashtra campaign with constitution conference

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will launch his campaign for Maharashtra’s Assembly elections on Wednesday in Nagpur. He will attend a “Samvidhan Sammelan” (Constitution Conference) before heading to Mumbai for a public meeting, where the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will announce its poll guarantees.

Nagpur’s choice as the venue is significant. It is the headquarters of the RSS, the BJP’s ideological parent, and the city where B.R. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism in 1956. Located in Vidarbha, a region crucial to Maharashtra’s elections, Nagpur is home to 36 of the 76 constituencies where the BJP and Congress directly compete.

Vidarbha, once a Congress stronghold, has seen BJP dominance in recent years. However, the MVA alliance is gaining momentum by focusing on the Constitution, reservation, and caste census issues. The MVA’s strong performance in the region during the Lok Sabha elections, winning 4 of the 10 seats, has fueled hopes of a power shift.

Vidarbha’s active Dalit movement and sizable population make it a key battleground. The BJP’s stance on these sensitive issues has resonated with voters, increasing the stakes in this important region.