Gonda: Newly appointed National General Secretary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Anil Dubey, was accorded a grand and historic welcome on his first visit to his home district of Gonda today. Party leaders, workers, and well-wishers gathered in large numbers to greet Dubey, turning the city into a vibrant display of party flags, banners, and hoardings.
Dubey arrived in Jarwal Road from Lucknow in the morning, where the welcome festivities began. He was warmly received at several key points, including Jarwal Road, Colonelganj, Balpur, Gonda Sadar, Ambedkar Chauraha, and Chopal Sagar, with hundreds of party supporters showering him with flowers and garlands. Several 51-kg garlands were offered to him by supporters across party lines, symbolizing unity and overwhelming support.
A convoy of hundreds of vehicles, led by motorbike-borne youth chanting slogans, accompanied Dubey through the city. The scale of the reception surprised many local political observers, who described the event as unprecedented in recent times.
Following the celebratory procession, Dubey reached the Field Hostel at the Irrigation Department Guest House, where he first paid floral tribute to Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh, the revered farmer leader and RLD’s ideological cornerstone. He later interacted with party office-bearers, workers, and supporters.
Speaking at a press conference at the venue, Dubey emphasized that the Rashtriya Lok Dal is committed to regaining its lost political ground in Central Uttar Pradesh, Purvanchal, and Bundelkhand. He announced that the party is actively working to mobilize the followers of Chaudhary Charan Singh and Chaudhary Ajit Singh and strengthen its organizational base by 2027, in preparation for the next Assembly elections. He also confirmed that the party would contest the District Panchayat elections.
Dubey further asserted that RLD will never compromise on the dignity and rights of farmers, which remain central to the party’s mission. When asked about the anti-Hindi stance of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, he challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to clarify their stand on whether they support the use of Hindi in Tamil Nadu.
Several prominent figures joined Dubey during the welcome event, including State Secretary Afzal Ali, District President Rajendra Singh, State General Secretary Suryanarayan Singh, and State Leader Sanjay Pathak. Other notable attendees included Umesh Shukla, President of Lal Bahadur Shastri PG College Student Union, Dr. Sanjay Pandey, and key members of the Gonda Bar Association—Arun Shukla, Shivpoojan Shukla, Shiv Yagya Pandey, and Advocate Ravindra Pandey.
