Did Rahul Gandhi Receive a Grand Welcome at Bhopal’s Raja Bhoj Airport?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rahul Gandhi received a warm welcome at Bhopal’s Raja Bhoj Airport.
- The visit marks the launch of the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan.
- Many Congress leaders were present to support Gandhi's arrival.
- Enthusiastic crowds greeted him, showcasing party support.
- The visit aims to strengthen Congress's grassroots engagement amidst challenges.
Bhopal, June 3 (NationPress) Congress MP and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi was met with an enthusiastic reception upon landing at Bhopal’s Raja Bhoj Airport on Monday.
His visit aims to kick off the party’s Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan (Organisational Development Campaign), succeeding a series of strategy discussions with party members.
A significant number of Congress officials, including Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari, former Chief Minister Kamal Nath, and LoP in the state Assembly Umang Singhar, were present at the airport to greet him.
A massive assembly of spirited Congress supporters gathered outside the airport, creating a scene of excitement as many rushed to welcome Gandhi.
Security forces found it challenging to handle the crowd before his convoy moved towards the party headquarters -- Indira Gandhi Bhavan in Shivaji Nagar.
Supporters lined the route from the airport to the party office, waving flags and showering flower petals. Traditional drummers dressed in dhoti-kurta performed at key intersections, adding a celebratory vibe to the welcome.
In a statement to the media, former state Congress president Arjun Yadav shared with IANS, “Rahul Gandhi, the people's leader advocating for a caste census, is here to officially launch the campaign aimed at strengthening the organization. This initiative will run throughout the day and is designed to rejuvenate the party at the grassroots level.”
During his one-day visit, Gandhi is set to conduct separate meetings with the MPCC Political Affairs Committee, AICC-appointed observers, and campaign leaders from the state unit.
This visit occurs as Congress faces challenges in Madhya Pradesh. The party has largely been out of power since 2003, apart from a brief 15-month period between December 2018 and March 2020, when Kamal Nath served as Chief Minister.
This government fell apart after 22 MLAs, led by Jyotiraditya Scindia -- currently a Union Minister -- shifted allegiance to the BJP.
In the 2023 Assembly elections, Congress was reduced to just 66 seats compared to the BJP's 163. The decline persisted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the party did not secure a single seat, including its former bastion Chhindwara. Although it won one of two bypolls held in November 2024, internal organizational issues and poor coordination among state leaders continue to impede its efforts against the ruling BJP.