Patna: The proposed visit of Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to Patna has been postponed, and a student conference scheduled as part of the visit will no longer take place on July 15. The Indian National Congress has attributed the decision to the Model Code of Conduct, which is in force because of the Bankipur Assembly by-election.
The conference was initially planned for July 11 before being rescheduled to July 15. The party has not announced a revised date for the programme.
Congress Cites Election Code
Congress leaders said the Model Code of Conduct is currently in effect in the Bankipur Assembly constituency due to the by-election. According to the party, holding a large political event during this period could raise concerns over compliance with election rules.
On this basis, the party decided to postpone both Rahul Gandhi’s visit and the proposed student conference.
Reports of Organisational Challenges
Alongside the official explanation, party sources indicated that organisational preparations may also have contributed to the postponement.
According to these sources, the state Congress unit had been asked to compile detailed information on nearly 10,000 students, including those affected by controversies surrounding competitive examinations such as NEET.
The exercise reportedly involved collecting names and contact details to facilitate their participation in the conference and to highlight issues affecting students.
No Official Confirmation on Internal Reports
Sources within the party said the required student database and contact lists could not be completed within the stipulated timeframe, affecting preparations for the event.
The Congress, however, has not officially confirmed these reports and continues to maintain that the Model Code of Conduct is the reason for postponing the programme.
Fresh Date Yet to Be Announced
The party has not announced a new date for Rahul Gandhi’s visit or the student conference. It remains unclear whether the event will be held after the completion of the Bankipur Assembly by-election process.
BJP Criticises Cancellation
Reacting to the development, BJP spokesperson Neeraj Kumar criticised the Congress, alleging that the party was unable to complete preparations for the event.
“The Congress party—which engages in the politics of tourism rather than democracy—had to cancel its tour because it failed to compile a database of 10,000 youths. Rahul Gandhi cancelled the visit out of fear that it would be a flop,” Kumar said.
The Congress has not responded publicly to the BJP’s allegations.
