Rahul on 2-day trip to Maharashtra, to unveil Shivaji's statue
What's the story
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is set to begin a two-day visit to Kolhapur in western Maharashtra on Friday.
His visit is seen as a critical moment for the party as it gears up for the polls, with potential key developments expected during his stay.
Here's what is expected during his visit.
Schedule details
Gandhi's itinerary and significance of Kolhapur visit
On Friday, he will unveil the statue of renowned Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the evening.
On Saturday, Gandhi will pay his respects at Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Samadhi in Kolhapur.
This will be followed by a Samvidhan Sammelan at Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Pavillion.
Notably, Kolhapur's MP Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji, will also attend both events.
Statue unveiling
Unveiling of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue
The statue to be unveiled by Gandhi is a 20-feet tall equestrian bronze figure weighing around 2,000kg.
It depicts Shivaji Maharaj with the "Jiga Kalgi Turra" crown, a belt and "katyar" at his waist, a shield on his back, a "patta" sword in his right hand, and a "dhop" sword in his left.
The design of the statue is based on historical references and every element has been recreated with historical accuracy.
Political impact
Gandhi's visit
According to Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh, Gandhi's visit is significant as Kolhapur occupies a special place in the history of the social justice system and Dalit empowerment movement in India.
The trip is also seen as an important step toward kickstarting the electoral campaign for the upcoming Assembly polls in Maharashtra.
After 2019 polls
Seat distribution in Maharashtra assembly
The Maharashtra Assembly has 288 seats, and the Bharatiya Janata Party is currently in the lead with 103 seats.
The Shiv Sena has 40 seats, the Nationalist Congress Party has 41, the Congress has 40, the Shiv Sena (UBT) holds 15, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) has 13, and others hold 29.
A few seats are still vacant.
The next assembly elections in Maharashtra are expected to happen in November.