Rahul Gandhi Addresses Tribals in Vadodara as BJP Figures Defect

In Vadodara, Gujarat, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi addressed a gathering of tribal leaders on Monday, marking a key event in the party's outreach to the community ahead of upcoming elections. The visit, which included discussions on tribal rights and empowerment, was swiftly followed by the defection of several local BJP figures to the Congress, signaling potential shifts in the region's political landscape.

Gandhi arrived at Vadodara airport around 2 p.m. and participated in the Adivasi Adhikar Samvidhan Sammelan, a conference focused on tribal issues. Organized by the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, the event drew approximately 1,000 participants, including doctors, engineers, NGO representatives, tribal activists, and intellectuals from across the state. Discussions covered topics such as tribal culture, education, the Right to Forest Act, social upliftment, health, and employment. Gandhi engaged with attendees on ways to empower the tribal community, highlighting differences in the Congress and BJP approaches to these matters. He also spoke with activists advocating for the welfare of tribal women and youth, addressing social,...