Recently, I met a number of family friends in Vidarbha who are die-hard Congress or Bharatiya Janata Party loyalists. Vidarbha has a strong base for both parties, with the BJP having bagged good electoral fortunes in the past two elections, albeit with noticeable hiccups in the last Assembly polls. During our chats, the families discussed a development—Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Congress supporters were excited to know that the party was finally doing something much-needed to reach out to the people; the action that has been missing at all levels of the Congress organisation. If not much electoral gains, they expect the yatra to keep the party alive and kicking.

The families were even more excited about Gandhi’s direct involvement in the reach-out affair, one that promises to be five months long and uninterrupted. Enthusiastic family members said they won’t mind joining Gandhi’s march, travelling 200-400 km from their homes to the places where Rahul halts in Maharashtra, bearing their own expenses. Unlike some Congress leaders, who were more meticulous in planning their trip, to be seen walking with Gandhi and getting photographed, the families didn’t worry much about getting noticed. They said they will be happy to be there, walking the distance their body strength permits. “We don’t care if we don’t get noticed. We just want to support Rahul,” said a young one. If travelling long is not possible, the families will participate in the local padayatra they are planning to mobilise the like-minded. These are the people the Congress organisation has been taking for granted, knowing that they will stand by the Gandhis, as long as the family continues to control the Congress.