Rahul Gandhi to skip Kerala rally due to Sonia Gandhi’s ill health; Kharge to attend Kozhikode event

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, will not attend the public rally organised by the United Democratic Front (UDF) on the Kozhikode beach in Kerala on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) evening. This follows the hospitalisation of his mother and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday night.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will instead attend the event to be held at 4.30 p.m. Congress leader Sachin Pilot is likely to accompany Mr. Kharge.

According to sources, Ms. Gandhi, a Rajya Sabha MP, has been admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, reportedly after she experienced respiratory issues.

Mr. Gandhi was supposed to open the rally at Kozhikode and kick off the UDF’s campaign for the State Assembly polls scheduled for April 9. He was also scheduled to announce the five guarantees the Congress had promised for the people of the State, if the front is voted to power.

Local Congress leaders had also arranged a bus for him to travel around the city with people from various walks of life, including K.K. Harshina, an alleged victim of a medical negligence case at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode.

Senior leaders of the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League will attend the event, according to sources.