In the Maharashtra leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi will address his first public meeting in Nanded, the fiefdom of Congress leader Ashok Chavan, who according to rumours is eyeing an entry into the BJP. Chavan has pledged loyalty to Congress and is now working on the November 7 rally's success.

Gandhi, who set off on the yatra from Kanyakumari on Wednesday, will walk 383km through Maharashtra, covering the distance in 16 days, and address 10 public meetings on his way to Madhya Pradesh. The yatra will pass through 12 states, two union territories and culminate in Jammu and Kashmir. The distance of nearly 3,500 km will be covered in approximately 150 days.