Secret visit:
Neither Rahul nor the Congress party have disclosed his place of visit as well as the date of his return. But a scheduled election rally in Moga of Punjab on January 3, which was to be attended by Rahul, had to be cancelled.
Such secret foreign visits are not new for Rahul. Before the winter session of the Parliament, he had preferred to stay abroad for almost a month. He had returned back to India a day before the start of the winter session of the Parliament.
Such sudden secret foreign visits of the former Congress president have always been targeted by his political rivals. His recent foreign visit comes at a time when all political parties are busy with preparations for coming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur.
Campaign stalled:
Cancellation of his rally in Moga of Punjab, where the Congress is in power, will be a setback for his party’s campaign in the state. This rally was to kick start campaigning of the Congress in Punjab. Delay in start of campaign may have some impact on the party's vote bank in the state. Campaign of the Congress may start in Punjab after return of Rahul.
It is interesting to note that the BJP is all set to begin its poll campaign in Punjab from January 5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold a rally on January 5 in Punjab. BJP has announced that it will fight the polls in Punjab in alliance with Captain Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress Party.
