Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge's Strategic Jammu and Kashmir Visit

Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge arrived in Srinagar to assess party preparations for the upcoming assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. They will engage with local leaders and explore a potential alliance with the National Conference. Their visit predated election announcements and aims to gather grassroots-level feedback.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, along with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, reached Srinagar on Wednesday for a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. They aim to assess party preparations for the forthcoming assembly elections in the Union Territory and explore a possible alliance with the National Conference.

The Congress leaders received a warm welcome from party activists and supporters at the airport. The over-enthusiastic crowd even caused brief security concerns by stopping Gandhi's vehicle on the road. The two leaders have significant meetings lined up, including discussions with party leaders and workers from 10 districts in Kashmir on Thursday. They are also slated to meet with the National Conference leadership to discuss potential pre-poll collaboration.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president, Tariq Karra, clarified that the two leaders planned the visit long before the election dates were announced. The primary purpose of the visit is to gather feedback from party workers on grassroots preparations for the elections. However, BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh criticized Gandhi, urging him to clarify the Congress party's stance on Article 370 and Article 35A during the visit.