Rahul Gandhi to Visit Visakhapatnam After Long Gap

Rahul Gandhi Set for First Visakhapatnam Visit as LoP

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Visakhapatnam later this month, marking his first trip to the city after assuming the role of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. This will also be his first visit to Andhra Pradesh since 2022.

Gandhi last travelled through parts of the state during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, when he undertook a padayatra across stretches of Anantapur and Kurnool districts. Since then, his absence from Andhra Pradesh had been a subject of political discussion within the state.

Visit Linked to Parliamentary Defence Committee

Officials said Gandhi’s visit is part of an official programme rather than a party-led tour. He will be in Visakhapatnam for three days starting January 19 as a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence.

The committee, led by Radha Mohan Singh, is expected to comprise several Members of Parliament. Gandhi is among those scheduled to participate in the inspection and review meetings planned during the visit.

Focus on Defence Installations and Coastal Security

During its three-day schedule, the committee will visit key defence-related institutions located in Visakhapatnam. These include establishments such as DRDO facilities and the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, which play a significant role in India’s defence research and operations.

The committee is also expected to review coastal security arrangements. Visakhapatnam hosts one of the country’s largest coastlines under the Coast Guard’s jurisdiction, making maritime security a key focus area for the central government.

Steel Plant Issue Back in Spotlight

Gandhi’s presence in Visakhapatnam has renewed attention on the long-standing agitation over the proposed privatisation of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. The issue dates back to a Cabinet Committee decision taken in January 2021 to withdraw full government equity from the plant.

Despite sustained protests by Left parties, trade unions, and public organisations over the past several years, the decision has not been formally reversed. Congress leaders had earlier indicated that Gandhi would personally address the issue in Visakhapatnam, though such a programme did not materialise until now.

Expectations from Congress and Protest Groups

While the visit is officially linked to parliamentary work, there is speculation that Gandhi may also interact with local Congress leaders. Representatives of the steel plant agitation are also expected to submit memoranda seeking his intervention at the national level.

As the principal opposition leader in Parliament, Gandhi’s visit is being viewed as an opportunity to bring renewed national attention to the steel plant issue. Congress cadres in the city have welcomed the visit, seeing it as a significant political moment after a long gap.