Mumbai: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Dharavi on Thursday and interacted mainly with leather industry workers. This is his first visit to the mega slum after the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections, during which he had made the redevelopment of the area by Adani a big issue.

This is Gandhi’s second visit to Maharashtra after Congress’ loss in the Vidhan Sabha elections. His first visit was to Parbhani last December, where he met the family of Somnath Suryawanshi, a law student who died in judicial custody.

Upon his arrival on Thursday morning , Gandhi was greeted by Maharashtra Congress President Harshavarshan Sapkal, Mumbai Congress chief and M.P. Prof Varsha Gaikwad, Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, and Congress Working Committee member Naseem Khan.

After Rahul Gandhi arrived in Mumbai, he drove straight to Dharavi to engage in a dialogue with the local residents. The Dharavi redevelopment project faces opposition from the Maha Vikas Aghadi, with Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray consistently criticizing the project.

The residents of Dharavi voted for the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. During this visit, Rahul Gandhi avoided speaking to the media. Additionally, he did not make much of a fuss or publicity about the tour.

Dharavi, known as one of the largest leather industry hubs globally, has over 20,000 leather manufacturing units and employs around 1.5 lakh workers. Gandhi also visited Chamar Studio, founded by Sudheer Rajbhar, where he creates unique artworks using various materials. The purpose of his visit was to understand the challenges faced by Dharavi’s residents.

This was Gandhi’s second visit to Dharavi, the first being in March when he and his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, traveled through the area in an open-roof SUV to mark the conclusion of the 6,700 km, 66-day Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

Dharavi, covering 2.1 square kilometers with a population of over seven lakh, is set for a major transformation. The Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), a joint venture between the Maharashtra government and the Adani Group, is responsible for the redevelopment.