Bharat Jodo Yatra: Rahul Gandhi to address public meeting in Ballari today

To celebrate Bharat Jodo Yatra reaching 1,000-km milestone, Congress leer Rahul Gandhi will dress a mega public meeting in Ballari in poll-bound Karnataka on Saturday.

After a night halt at Halakundhi Math on Friday, Gandhi resumed his march on Saturday to reach Kamma Bhavan in district hequarters town of Ballari.

public meeting will take place at Municipal Ground in afteron.

Top Congress leers, including Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan chief ministers Bhupesh Baghel and Ashok Gehlot, former chief ministers Siddaramaiah, Kamal Nath, and Selja Kumari, Randeep Singh Surjewala and Digvijaya Singh will attend event in Ballari.

With just six months left for assembly elections, Congress in Karnataka is pinning high hopes on yatra led by Gandhi as well as public meeting in Ballari -- being seen as party's mega show of strength.

Ballari h witnessed a 320-km 'payatra' by Congress stalwart Siddaramaiah back in 2010 against alleged illegal mining by Reddy brors under BJP rule.

march against G Janardhana Reddy, Karunakara Reddy and Somashekara Reddy was a major turning point for Congress as it helped sharpen its attack on n Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and unseat BJP government.

Congress h won 2013 assembly polls in state.

Leing Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi has so far covered four states -- Tamil Nu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Presh.

On Saturday morning, hundreds of people lined up on both sides of ro to greet Gandhi as his caravan moved ahe amidst drumbeats and sloganeering.

route was dotted with festoons, banners, posters and Congress flags while several people shook hands, hugged and interacted with Gandhi.

Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Karnataka on September 30 and will make a final exit on October 20 after covering 511 km in 21 days. yatra is aimed at uniting India against divisive forces.