The decision to hold a rally was taken at a meeting chaired by district Congress chief Yusuf Patel and attended by tribal leader and MP Chhitu Gamit, MLAs like Nagarji Vasava, Raman Rathod, Pratap Gamit and other leaders including Pravin Rathod and Nanu Patel.

According to a statement issued by the district Congress committee, leaders and tribals from Olpad, Mahuva, Bardoli, Vyara, Valod, Vyara and other places would also remain present for the rally.

Over one lakh people from all talukas of Surat district as well as neighbouring districts were expected to attend the rally, which would ``reiterate the solidarity of the Congress party with the tribals,'' the statement added.

Former chief minister Amarsinh Chaudhari, GPCC president C D Patel and state leaders like Chhotu Vasava, Chhitu Gamit, Somji Damor and all Congress MLAs of the region would also attend the rally, the statement said.

According to Yusuf Patel, ever since the BJP came to power in the state, there had been a spurt in atrocities on tribals, adivasis and the minorities and as Zankhvav had a sizeable number of tribals, it was the right place where the rally could be held.

It may be noted that just last week, the Congress held a similar rally in the Dangs, where a sizeable number of tribals and adivasis had turned up. While the Dangs had also witnessed cases of communal stand-off recently, Zankhvav witnessed clashes just over a month ago. The rallies by the Congress in the tribal areas of the region is being seen by many to regain its clout that it held strongly in these areas until a few years ago.