What if Rahul's yatra continues through March?

Why is Rahul Gandhi still continuing with his Bharat Jodo Nyay yatra even as elections are lurking round the corner? This is the million dollar question that the analysts and activists alike are posing to the Congress party thinking heads. At a time when all other political parties are busy with strategizing for the elections, Rahul Gandhi is busy with his Padayatra, which will have nil impact on the election outcome.

What is shocking is that he is undertaking the yatra in states that are not of much consequence like West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar, where the party is in doldrums. Normally, all padayatras end at least a good six months before the announcement of the election schedule so that the leaders can sit down and plan their strategies. Issues such as candidate selection, addressing dissidence, withdrawal of rebels and whirlwind campaigns are taken up at that time. However, Rahul Gandhi is still on the roads with practically no strategy whatsoever for the upcoming elections.

Quite interestingly, INDI alliance partners Mamta Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress, Arvind Kejriwal of the AAP have already begun announcing their respective candidates. The Congress is yet to begin this process. If sources are to be believed, the notification for the elections is likely to be issued by the end of this month. This means the Congress will be left with practically no time to campaign.

If party sources are to be believed, the yatra will continue till the end of March, which means it will end when the electioneering peaks. The cadre will have to spare their time for the success of the yatra at a time when they should be focusing on election campaign. Unfortunately for the Congress, no one seems to be in a position to advise Rahul Gandhi.