Khammam Wears Congress Colours To Mark End Of Bhatti's Padayatra

KHAMMAM: Senior Congress leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka’s padayatra on Saturday entered Khammam, where he was accorded a grand welcome by performing troupes amid the din of cracker-bursting, a day ahead of the conclusion of the ‘People’s March’.

Khammam town was a vision in Congress leaders’ faces, with cut-outs and posters of Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Bhatti Vikramarka, among others, adorning every nook and cranny.

Arrangements were also in full swing for the public meeting by the president of the Khammam town unit, Mohd Javed, under the supervision of Ponguleti Srinivas.

Bhatti Vikramarka, in his padayatra, covered 1,360 kilometres across 750 villages in 36 Assembly constituencies, spanning 17 districts, despite hot summer conditions and facing several health issues.

The padayatra started on March 16, flagged off by AICC Telangana incharge Manikrao Thakre, from Pipri in Adilabad, during which Bhatti received an overwhelming response in most places, meeting people from various sections of the society, including Adivasi and Dalit groups.

Bhatti Vikramarka also met with Singareni Collieries workers, unemployed youth and women about the Congress’ plans for their welfare, urging them to vote the party into power in the state.

The Congress leader also tried to “expose the failures of the KCR government” on various fronts and how he failed to fulfil promises made before the elections.

Sources said that on Saturday, Bhatti Vikramarka will stay at a venue located 1.5 kilometres from the meeting ground, a distance that he would cover by Sunday evening.

While Congress leaders could not confirm it, sources said there was a possibility of Rahul Gandhi joining the padayatra before its conclusion and felicitating Mallu Bhatti at the event, for garnering public support and exposing the government’s failures.

They said that Rahul Gandhi will reach Khammam from Vijayawada on a helicopter, around 5.20 pm.