Congress Reaches Out to Didi, Invites Her to Rahul Yatra | India News

NEW DELHI: Blindsided by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s sudden decision to break ranks with INDIA parties, Congress on Saturday made a desperate attempt to salvage a similar “tense” situation in West Bengal by referring to TMC chief Mamata Banerjee as the “co-architect” of the opposition bloc, whose commitment to fight BJP was unwavering just like that of the grand old party.
With Rahul Gandhi‘s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra now on Mamata’s terrain and scheduled to spend three more days in West Bengal, Congress appeared eager to brush under the carpet niggling issues related to permissions not being granted to the Yatra as it passes through the state. Party managers skirted questions over why the TMC government denied permission to Rahul ‘s public meetings in Berhampur and Siliguri, compelling the Gandhi scion to address his scheduled gathering in Siliguri on Sunday from atop his bus instead of a stage.

Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh, however, insisted that all was well and any alterations to the Yatra were owing to court orders disallowing disturbance ahead of examinations. He also underscored that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was directly in touch with the West Bengal CM, not only to invite her to join the ‘Yatra’ but also to request her to iron out security-related concerns pertaining to yatra.
In his letter to Mamata, Kharge flagged concerns about the likelihood of “miscreants” fomenting trouble, which he said may be aimed at showing the state administration in bad light.
Congress, meanwhile, insisted it would be privileged to have Mamata participate in the Bengal leg of the Yatra. “Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has extended her an invite to the Yatra. There is no doubt that she is fighting BJP, which is also the intent of Congress and the INDIA bloc. There is no dispute. Congress president, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi respect her a great deal and they know that if we have to defeat BJP, TMC is indispensable and Banerjee’s participation is a must,” Ramesh added.

Hard pressed to present a picture of unity among INDIA partners, Congress acknowledged that the delay in finalising seat-sharing negotiations was disappointing, but strongly denied speculations that the alliance was reaching implosion point.