Congress to Launch Bharat Jodo 2.0 from Shikaripur, Karnataka

The Indian National Congress is set to launch the second phase of its mass outreach campaign, Bharat Jodo 2.0, from Shikaripur in Karnataka, according to party sources. The launch is expected to be led by senior party leader Rahul Gandhi and aims to galvanize support ahead of the 2024 general elections.

The first Bharat Jodo Yatra, which concluded in January 2023, covered over 4,000 kilometers from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and was credited with revitalizing the party's grassroots presence. Shikaripur, located in the Lingayat-dominated Shivamogga district, is politically significant as the home turf of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, a prominent BJP leader. The choice of location is seen as a strategic move to challenge the BJP's stronghold in Karnataka, where assembly elections are due later this year.

The launch of Bharat Jodo 2.0 is likely to intensify political competition in Karnataka and set the tone for the Congress's national campaign. It remains to be seen how the BJP responds, but the move underscores the Congress's efforts to project itself as the principal opposition force. The yatra's route and duration are yet to be officially announced, but it is expected to cover several states and focus on issues of economic inequality and social justice.