NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has decided to shorten his upcoming visit to the United States from 10-12 days to just 5-7 days, source said. This change comes as the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana approach.

Gandhi’s visit, which is set for September, will now include fewer events than originally planned. His address to the Indian community in Texas remains on the agenda. This will be Gandhi’s first trip abroad since becoming the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

During Gandhi’s visit, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will lead the Congress campaign in India. She is expected to participate in 5 to 7 roadshows and over 15 election rallies across Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, with a significant number of rallies planned for Haryana.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Congress has formed an alliance with the National Conference for the assembly elections, while in Haryana, it will contest independently without joining forces with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The Jammu and Kashmir elections will be held in three phases: September 18, September 25, and October 1, with the vote count scheduled for October 4. The Union Territory has 90 assembly seats and 8.8 million eligible voters.

In Haryana, where elections are set for October 1, the results will also be announced on October 4. The Haryana Assembly has 90 members, and this year’s election will see competition among the BJP, Congress, JJP, and AAP.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the JJP received only 0.87% of the vote share, failing to secure any seats. The BJP and JJP had previously formed a coalition government in Haryana after the 2019 elections, but this alliance was dissolved earlier this year.

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