Rahul Gandhi to visit Kochi today to confer Priyadarshini Award, address Maha Panchayat

Kochi, Kerala: Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi arrived at Delhi airport on Monday ahead of his visit to Kochi.

He is scheduled to confer the Priyadarshini Literary Award, organised by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), on Dr M. Leelavathy in Kalamassery, Kerala.

A mahapanchayat organised by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), bringing together all Congress representatives who won and lost in the local body elections, will be held at Marine Drive on Monday.

The event, titled ‘Vijayotsavam–2026 Mahapanchayat’, is scheduled to begin at 2 pm and will be inaugurated by Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who has returned from Delhi to attend the programme.

In addition to the 7,818 representatives who won the elections, those who were defeated have also been invited. More than 15,000 people are expected to participate in the event.

The objective of the mahapanchayat is to give due consideration to candidates who lost, alongside the winners, and to entrust them with responsibilities in the party’s future activities, ensuring unity and collective participation within the organisation.

The event will be attended by prominent party leaders, including Opposition Leader V D Satheesan, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, Sachin Pilot, Kanhaiya Kumar, CWC member Ramesh Chennithala, and Karnataka Energy Minister K J George.

KPCC president Sunny Joseph and AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala, Deepa Dasmunshi, inspected preparations at Marine Drive on Sunday. Rahul Gandhi is expected to arrive in Nedumbassery at 12:45 pm, while representatives from various districts will begin reaching the city by 11 am.