My family has long relationship with poll-bound Karnataka: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday tried to strike an emotional chord with people of poll-bound Karnataka by recalling his family's association with the State.

He made reference to Ballari from where his mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi successfully contested the Lok Sabha election in 1999. The leader pointed out that his grandmother and late former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had contested and won from Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency in 1978. We have a long relationship between my family and Ballari. My mother fought her election from here and got elected due to the wholehearted support of the people of Ballari, Gandhi recalled while addressing a public meeting here as part of his Bharat Jodo Yatra. My grandmother Indira Gandhi fought from Chikkamagaluru. So, I cannot forget that, he pointed out. Gandhi addressed a public meeting here to celebrate the completion of 1,000 km by walk. Senior Congress functionaries, including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former chief ministers Siddaramaiah, Veerappa Moily, Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh, Congress' presidential candidate Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC general secretary and party's Karnataka in charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, Pradesh Congress Committee presidents from all the States, Karnataka MLAs, MPs and former ministers attended the event. The former Congress leader, who started his march on September 7 from Kanyakumari has planned to conclude his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu on January 30, 2023 covering over 3,500 km by walk.