To give a boost to the membership drive of NSUI, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit the city on October 13.

After arriving in the city around 2.30 pm, he will head towards the Panjab University to interact with nearly 2000 students, including NSUI members.

Gandhi is taking a keen interest in the induction of youngsters in the youth wing of the party and has visited various states around the country, where the membership drive is taking place.

President of Chandigarh Territorial Youth Congress H S Lucky said: “Rahul Gandhi is coming to interact with students and oversee the membership drive. This will increase the enthusiasm of NSUI workers. We have already distributed 19,000 membership forms and there is demand for more. This shows the popularity he enjoys among youths.”

The NSUI does not have a wide base in the city, as there are not too many members in PU or colleges and SOPU and PUSU have dominated student politics for many years. PU presidents are usually elected from either of the two parties, as NSUI generally contests in alliance in the varsity with either of the two groups.

Party leaders are hopeful that the situation will change after Gandhi’s visit and the next student elections will see a dramatic shift. Lucky claimed that the members of SOPU and PUSU are also filling up the NSUI membership forms.

The ‘Rahul effect’ had worked during the membership drive for Congress’ scheme Aam Aadmi Ka Sipahi held in the city nearly a month ago. Nearly 200 youngsters, including many professionals, had turned up for the interview.