Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit poll-bound Mizoram for two days starting on October 16, a visit the party is showcasing more as an extension of his Bharat Jodo Yatra and not electioneering for the November 7 Assembly polls.

Congress leaders The Telegraph spoke to said Rahul would take out the Yatra from Chanmari to Treasury Square, a distance of about 2.5km, where he will “meet people and listen to their problems and concerns” as he did during the Bharat Jodo Yatra from September 7, 2022, to January 30 this year.

The Congress announced Rahul's visit on Friday. The itinerary is still being finalised but broadly there will be a yatra from Chanmari to Raj Bhawan followed by interactions with youth, Church leaders and party leaders on Monday.

“The next day, he will be holding a rally/yatra in southern Mizoram, probably Lunglei. He will address a media meeting on October 18 before leaving. We see it as an extension of the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” a Congress leader said.

That the Congress is pitching it as an extension of the Yatra became evident when it announced the visit by issuing a media note referring to the Yatra, its objective and the positive impact it has had on the party’s electoral fortunes in Karnataka and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council polls.

“The main reason for the Yatra is to raise the voice of the people as the BJP government has sowed seeds of mistrust and promoted divisive policies among the citizens, under the BJP’s rule the people find themselves without a voice and are in despair,” the Congress media statement said, attacking the Opposition BJP and the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF).

“Rahul Gandhi is extending his journey to Mizoram to be the voice and advocate for the people of Mizoram, just as he has been for the rest of the nation. His visit to Mizoram is another opportunity for the people to engage with a leader who has been unwavering in his dedication to representing their interests,” the statement said.

The state unit also released posters with the Bharat Jodo Yatra logo on its Whatsapp group inviting people to join the walk to spread the message of love, peace and secularism.