Tamil Nadu: Rahul Gandhi commences Padyatra in Agasteeswaram, Kanyakumari on Thursday morning hoisting the National flag at the campsite. Accompanied by along with 118 ‘Bharat Yatris’ as well as other party leaders from across the country Rahul commenced the 3,570-km to finish their ambitious journey in Srinagar by the beginning of February next year. The Bharat Jodo Yatra will pass through 12 states and two Union Territories over the next 150 days.

As he commenced the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Tamil Nadu, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met the relatives of S Anitha, the NEET aspirant, who died by suicide.The Congress leader expressed his condolences to the family.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi who is abroad for health reasons on Wednesday said: “This is a landmark occasion for our great party with such a glorious legacy – the Indian National Congress. I am confident that our organisation will be rejuvenated. It is also a transformational moment in Indian politics.”

Interacting with the media shorlty after commencing the Padyatra, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the party is “focussed like Arjun was focussed on the fish when he went for Draupadi’s swayamvar. We have only one single vision right now: to ensure the successful completion of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.”

“I don’t want to waste my time countering the arguments from the other side. There will always be professional critics, arm-chair critics, people who will raise questions in India for everything you do,” Ramesh added.

Senior Congress leaders like Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and Rajya Sabha MP K C Venugopal are also seen along with Rahul Gandhi.