Bharat Jodo enters day 4 in K'taka; Sonia, Priyanka likely to join Rahul Gandhi

Mysuru, Oct 3 (IANS) Congress President Sonia Gandhi and General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi are likely to join the Rahul Gandhi led - Bharat Jodo yatra, which entered day four in the southern district of Karnataka on Monday.

According to sources, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are scheduled to reach Mysuru city at noon and proceed to Mandakalli airport in Mysuru by a special flight.

Both the leaders would visit the Chamundeshwari hills and seek the Goddess's blessings. Later, they would leave by helicopter for hill station Kodagu where they will rest for a couple of days.

Rahul Gandhi will also join them in Kodagu and spend some time with them there. Against the backdrop of the Vijaya Dashami (Navratri) festivities in Karnataka, the Bharat Jodo Yatra will be halted for two days --Tuesday and Wednesday.

Party leaders say that Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi would take part in padayatra when it resumes on October 6. Priyank Kharge, Congress MLA and chairman of KPCC Media Cell stated that Priyanka Gandhi would take part in the padayatra on Thursday in Melukote town in Mandya district.

He further stated that if health permits, Sonia Gandhi would also join the padayatra on that day.

Senior party leader A.S. Ponnanna has been given responsibility of monitoring the visit for top Congress leaders. Gandhis would stay at the Coorg Wilderness Resort in Megeri village of Madikeri taluk. The CRPF personnel are providing security for the resort.

After covering Chamarajanagar and Mysuru districts, the yatra entered Mandya district this morning.

Rahul Gandhi visited Ajam Mosque with local Congress MLA Tanveer Sait and also paid a visit to the historical Saint Philomena's Church.

On Monday, Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh tweeted, "After the downpour of last night created iconic images, day 26 of Bharat Jodo Yatra started at 6.30 am from the heart of historic Mysuru."

Rahul Gandhi and padayatris will be walking 22 kilometers at a fast clip today (Monday) to reach the end point 3 hours before the usual schedule of 4.30 p.m."