Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will be in the historic city of Kolhapur on October 4 and 5 during which he would unveil a statue of legendary Maratha warrior-king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and offer tributes to eminent social reformer-king Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj.
The visit assumes significance in the wake of the forthcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, expected around mid-November.
This is the second visit of Gandhi to Maharashtra in a month’s time.
It may be recalled that on September 5, Gandhi and Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, had been to Sangli, when they unveiled the statue of late Congressman and loyalist Dr Patangrao Kadam.
“On Friday evening he is scheduled to inaugurate the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s grand, full-length statue at Kasba Bawada,” said Congress Group Leader in Legislative Council Satej Bunty Patil.
Gandhi will attend a special cultural programme with a performance by over 2001 artists, besides 1,000 people who shall be present attired in the costumes depicting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, at the Kasba Bawada Pavilion grounds. They would enact the life story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
On Saturday, Gandhi will visit and pay his respects at the samadhi of the late social reformer Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj (1874-1922) in Kolhapur, which has recently undergone a major revamp of around Rs 10 crore. Gandhi would be accompanied by Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj, the Congress MP from Kolhapur.
Gandhi would also attend a meeting to honour the Constitution in the presence of 1,000 top political leaders, representatives of scores of non-governmental organisations, religious groups and other invitees and interact with the attendees.
These events will be attended by AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar, Congress Legislature Party Leader Balasaheb Thorat, ex-CMs Prithviraj Chavan and Sushilkumar Shinde.