Bhubaneswar: Almost a fortnight after cancelling a trip to Odisha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will campaign for the second-round elections in the state by addressing a public gathering in Balangir on May 15.
“He will arrive in Bhubaneswar around 11 am and then directly proceed to Balangir to address a public meeting at around 11.30 am,” Odisha Congress in-charge Ajoy Kumar informed on Monday. Rahul is also likely to take part in a bike rally in the western Odisha town.
Ajoy Kumar further informed that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will also be in Odisha on May 16 and attend a public meeting in Kandhamal. He is also scheduled to address a press conference on the same day in Bhubaneswar, he added.
Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh is also scheduled to address a press conference here on Tuesday (May 14).
Rahul had launched his election campaign for Congress in Odisha from Salepur in Cuttack district on April 28. He, however, had to addressed an election rally in Rayagada district under Koraput Lok Sabha constituency through a video message on May 3 as he was preoccupied with filing of his nomination papers for Raebareli Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh.
The Congress candidate for Balangir assembly seat Samarendra Mishra had earlier told the media that they are excited about Rahul’s visit. “He has special connections with the people of western Odisha. His visit and poll rally will boost our confidence and we will win by big margins,” he added.