Kharge, Rahul Visit to J&K Rescheduled, Both to Kickstart Their Visit from Srinagar Instead of Jammu

Congress on Wednesday rescheduled the visit of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s visit to poll bound Jammu and Kashmir.

Accordong to senior Congress leaders related to the development, Kharge and Rahul Gandi will be visiting the Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday afternoon and will arrive in Srinagar first instead of heading to Jammu, as per earlier schedule.

The party leaders said that both the senior leaders will leave from Delhi around 2 p.m. and reach Srinagar by 5 p.m.

The leaders pointed out that on Thursday the Congress leaders will have a meeting with the party leaders and workers in Srinagar and discuss the poll strategy as well as preparations.

The leaders also pointed out that both of them will also discuss the alliance talks details with the Farooq Abdullah-led NC and other parties in J&K.

After attending rhe programme in Srinagar, both the leaders will them visit Jammu around 2.30 p.m. and will hold a sammelan with party workers and also meet the party leaders.

Earlier it was said that Rahul Gandhi was also likely to visit Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu and Kashmir. Elections are taking place in the union territory for the first time in 10 years.

The Election Commission has announced polling dates for J&K in three phases — September 18, September 25 and October 1. While the counting of votes will take place on October 4. The elections also gains importance as it is haplening for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into two union territories of J&K and Ladakh in Augist 2019.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi called on visiting Malayasian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the national capital.