The limited participation of national Congress figures in the V.D. Satheesan-led ‘Puthuyuga Yatra’ has become a talking point within party ranks and political circles. Nineteen days after the march was flagged off on February 6, the absence of senior leaders from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has prompted speculation about how strongly the initiative is being backed by the central leadership.

The yatra, spearheaded by V. D. Satheesan, who serves as Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition, is designed to galvanise public opinion and reinforce the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) positioning ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Beginning in Kasaragod, the outreach campaign has already traversed ten districts, drawing crowds and generating visibility for the Opposition’s messaging.

Despite being portrayed by state leaders as a successful grassroots mobilisation effort, the march has yet to witness the presence of prominent Congress leaders from the national stage. According to party sources, a roster of central leaders had been forwarded to the high command before the programme commenced. The list reportedly included figures such as Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Siddaramaiah, D. K. Shivakumar, Revanth Reddy, and P. Chidambaram. Local leaders indicated that the plan was for these national figures to address gatherings at district headquarters along the route.

State Congress representatives have maintained that the yatra’s core objective is to deepen engagement at the booth and constituency levels, emphasising that organisational support from the party remains intact. They argue that the campaign’s momentum and public response demonstrate its effectiveness irrespective of national attendance.

The march entered Kottayam this week and is scheduled to proceed through Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Kollam. The programme is expected to culminate in Thiruvananthapuram on March 7, where Rahul Gandhi is slated to participate, potentially lending national visibility to the campaign’s finale.