HUBBALLI: Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts are bedecked with banners and posters to accord a grand welcome to All India Congress Committee president Rahul Gandhi , who will kickstart his second leg of campaign in Mumbai- Karnataka on Saturday.During his three-day tour in the region to galvanize the party ahead of the assembly election in state, Rahul will visit Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bagalkot and Dharwad districts. His proposed visit has revived the party spirit and enthused workers and leaders. Huge posters of Congress leaders including CM Siddaramaiah, AICC president Rahul Gandhi and other leaders have adorned the nooks and corners of Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts.Rahul is expected to visit temples, mosques and other religious places in the region though the exact plan has not been revealed yet.After addressing a public meeting at Athani in Belagavi district on Saturday, he will fly to Vijayapura and attend a women’s convention at Tikota village at 3pm. More than 60,000 women are expected to participate in the rally. The AICC president is also expected to hold talks with senior party leaders and DCC and block presidents.Flagging off half marathon ‘Vrukshthon 2018,’ he will take part in the event to fill the barrage with water at Chikkapadasalgi village of Jamkhandi taluk in Bagalkot on Sunday at 9.30am. After addressing a public meeting at Mudhol, and a corner meeting in Bagakot on Sunday, he will take a rest at the IB in Bagalkot. On Monday morning, he will have a meeting with block presidents of Bagalkot and Belagavi district and fly to Saundatti and also attend a public meeting in Hubballi before flying back to Delhi on Monday evening.Speaking to TOI, Mahadevi Gokak, president, Congress women’s wing, Vijayapura, said that they want preference to be given to women candidates while allotting party tickets and the same will be conveyed to Rahul Gandhi. Some Lambani women are planing to gift him a handwoven jacket when he participates in the women’s convention, she added.A huge pandal measuring 300x400 feet with a dais that can accommodate 70 dignitaries is being erected in Talikot village for Rahul’s public speech during the women’s convention. Chief minister Siddaramaih, AICC women’s wing national president Sushmita Dev, Mallikarjun Kharge, KPCC president G Parameshwar , minister DK Shivakumar and other leaders are expected to take part in the event.

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