Maha Kumbh, SIR: Inside RaGa's Nashik visit

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Nashik on Wednesday to address party officials at the conclusion of a 10-day organisational training camp for the Maharashtra Congress. During his visit, local party leaders briefed Gandhi on several contentious regional issues, including alleged corruption surrounding infrastructure projects for the Nashik Kumbh Mela and concerns regarding land acquisition for the proposed ₹1 lakh crore Shakti Peeth expressway.

According to senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan, the party has raised significant concerns over the transparency of the Kumbh Mela infrastructure works. Chavan alleged that the projects were initiated without proper project reports or public consultation, suggesting that the primary objective was to secure contracts for favored entities. He further claimed that party leaders are documenting these issues to bring them into the national political discourse.

In addition to the infrastructure allegations, the meeting focused on the growing distress among the farming community in the region. Maharashtra Congress leaders apprised Gandhi of the widespread opposition from farmers regarding the land acquisition process for the Shakti Peeth expressway project. The state government recently approved an allocation of ₹2,267 crore for the acquisition of over 191 acres of land for the expressway, a move that has become a focal point for local political agitation.

As the Congress party intensifies its outreach in Maharashtra, these issues are expected to form a core part of their platform against the current state administration. The party has indicated that it will continue to press for greater accountability in infrastructure spending and advocate for the interests of farmers affected by large-scale state development projects.