Political March Known as Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra: Possible Catalyst for Indian National Congress's Road to Regaining Power?

The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, a socio-economic justice rally initiated by the Indian National Congress (INC), has been making its way across India since January 14. The march, led by Rahul Gandhi, the former president of the INC and the great-grandson of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, aims to traverse 15 Indian states, focusing on the eastern to southern regions of the country.

The rally, which covers 355 constituencies of the Lok Sabha (the lower house of parliament), accounting for 65 percent of the seats, primarily focuses on three nyays (principles of justice) for the people of India: social justice, economic justice, and political justice.

The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered Assam on January 18 and covered 833 kilometers over 8 days. However, the rally encountered several obstacles in Assam. On January 21, Assam Pradesh Congress President Bhupen Borah was injured in a scuffle with BJP supporters. The BJP-led state government imposed restrictions on several proposed routes for the rally, and the Assam chief minister instructed Assam Police to register a case against Gandhi and threatened to arrest him. On January 23, the march was stopped by barricades placed by the Assam Police, leading to a major scuffle. Members of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha attacked and tore apart the march's banners and posters in Lakhimpur district on January 19.

The Assam chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, labeled the march "miyan yatra," a derogatory term for Muslims. Rahul Gandhi was denied entry to Batradev Temple in the Nagaon district on January 22 due to ongoing celebrations for the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Despite these challenges, the rally continued its journey, entering West Bengal on January 25 and spending the highest number of days in Uttar Pradesh en route to Bihar and Maharashtra. The rally encountered inter-community violence in Manipur since May 2023, but the exact date of its conclusion in West Bengal is not provided in the search results.

Similar yatras concluded with public meetings in places like Patna on September 1, following routes like Bihar’s Voter Adhikar Yatra inspired by the original Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The march spans 66 days and covers more than 6,700 kilometers, making it a significant event in India's political landscape.

The BJP won in 236 out of the 355 seats during the 2019 general elections. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is a testament to the INC's commitment to addressing the issues that matter most to the people of India and to fostering unity and justice in the country.