Kharge’s Nagaland visit on October 7 postponed

KOHIMA — Putting speculation to rest, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) President and Member of Parliament Mallikarjun Kharge’s proposed visit to Kohima on October 7 has been postponed due to health reasons.

A Congress leader confirmed to Eastern Mirror on Friday afternoon that the rally scheduled for October 7 “stands postponed.”

Kharge was to address a public rally at 11 am at Naga Solidarity Park in Kohima, and also hold meetings with the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), Core Committee, and District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents.

He was expected to be accompanied by AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal and AICC in-charge for Nagaland, Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, both MPs.

Also read: Health concerns cast shadow on Kharge’s Kohima trip

On October 2, a senior Congress leader at the national level had told Eastern Mirror that “the trip is postponed,” without sharing further details. That evening, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president and Lok Sabha MP S Supongemeren Jamir said the decision would be finalised the next day (Friday).

The development follows Kharge’s recent medical procedure. On October 1, his son and Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge said that the Congress chief was advised a pacemaker implantation.

He was admitted to hospital for the procedure, which was completed successfully. He is reported to be stable and expected to resume work shortly.

Meanwhile, the NPCC organising committee confirmed the postponement in a statement on Friday, citing “health grounds.”

It informed all team members that the visit has been deferred “till further intimation from the AICC headquarters on his rescheduled visit.”

The NPCC Communication department stated that further updates would be shared once a new date is fixed.