His whirlwind tour that involves meeting youth, party cadres, students, professionals, industrialists and others is aimed at revitalising the grand old party in Tamil Nadu, Congress sources said.

With the Congress deciding to hold organisational elections in its youth wing in the state soon, the visit of Gandhi, 38, is expected to give much thrust to the youth membership drive that is on now in Tamil Nadu.

The Congress has not tasted power in the state even once after 1967, but has been getting some seats in the assembly riding piggyback on the shoulders of two Dravidian parties -- AIADMK and DMK -- since then.

Meanwhile, the last month's meeting of Tamil movie hero Vijay with Gandhi has created excitement among the Congress cadres here and given rise to speculations in political circles.

The Congress is also wooing another actor turned politician, Vijaykath, who has floated DMDK and is believed to have a good youth following.

While Congressmen have welcomed Vijay to join their party, the actor has kept mum.

Unlike the two other major parties in the state -- DMK and AIADMK -- the Congress has no notable actor with it to attract the masses.

Vijay's association with the Congress is expected to get the party the much needed young blood.