Nagpur : Congress leaders lined up at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport on Wednesday, November 6, to welcome senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi. His visit to Nagpur marks the commencement of the Congress party's campaign for the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections.

Gandhi's itinerary includes participation in the Samvidhan Samman Sammelan, organized by the OBC Youth Rights Forum, set to take place at the Suresh Bhat Auditorium, Reshimbagh. This event, held against the backdrop of the state’s forthcoming elections, aims to consolidate support from the OBC community. Though organized by an independent OBC forum, the event has drawn attention for its significance in the political sphere. The Congress party has limited attendance to invitation-only for party members and aligned groups from NGOs, emphasizing a more private setting for the occasion.

Following his arrival, Gandhi will first visit Deekshabhoomi to pay homage to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's memorial, honoring the ashes of the revered social reformer and architect of the Indian Constitution. Later in the afternoon, he is expected to address the gathering at the OBC-focused convention. Notably, his engagements in Nagpur have been kept apolitical, with no direct campaign rallies planned in Vidarbha.

This strategy, involving smaller gatherings primarily for political workers, marks a shift from the large-scale rallies traditionally held by the Congress party. However, Gandhi will attend a campaign event later in Mumbai in support of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates, which is anticipated to draw significant media attention.