Dharamsala (Arvind Sharma) |
Rahul Gandhi,
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, arrived in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday morning for a day-long visit focused on party organisation and strategy. He landed at Gaggal Airport at around 8:00 AM, where he was received by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and senior Congress leaders.
During his approximately eight-hour visit, Gandhi is attending a training programme at Gupt Ganga in Kangra, organised for district and urban Congress presidents from Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir. The programme marks the concluding day of a 10-day organisational training camp.
At the venue, Gandhi participated in interactive sessions with party functionaries and is scheduled to hold discussions over breakfast and lunch. He seeks feedback on organisational issues and provides guidance on strengthening the party structure, particularly at the booth level, ahead of upcoming Panchayat and urban local body elections. Rahul also gave tips to the newly elected office bearers of these three states and also held key meetings with state Congress leaders around to review organisational performance and the functioning of the state government. The meeting is being seen as part of preparations for future Assembly elections.
In a statement, Chief Minister Sukhu welcomed Gandhi’s visit, describing the training camp as an important platform for organisational strengthening and exchange of ideas. He said Gandhi’s participation would provide direction and renewed momentum to party workers.
State Congress President Vinay Kumar, along with the Chief Minister, accompanied Gandhi to the programme venue. According to party sources, the sessions will also focus on media strategy, effective use of social media, grassroots outreach, and countering opposition narratives under the party’s ‘Organisation Building Programme’.
Security arrangements were tightened in view of the visit, with SPG teams conducting advance checks along the route from the airport to the venue. To ease traffic congestion, the Kangra vegetable market remained closed for the day.
Ajay Verma, coordinator of the training camp and Vice Chairman of HRTC, said Gandhi’s visit is limited to the training programme and does not include any public events. Gandhi is scheduled to return to Delhi later in the day.
Gandhi left kangra for delhi to gaggal airport in the afternoon after lunch.
