Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will skip Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad’s Opposition rally in Patna on 27 August since he will be travelling to Norway at that time.
Gandhi, on 252 August, tweeted that he was travelling to Oslo on the invitation of the Norwegian foreign ministry.
Lalu is organising a rally of opposition parties – ‘BJP Bhagao, Desh Bachao’ – at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. A similar meeting has been planned by the Congres at Padri in Valsad district of Gujarat on 1 September.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad is likely to represent the party at the rally. Sources said the Congress supports the RJD and its rally and will be adequately represented.
“The Congress supports the RJD and the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad will be attending the 27 August rally of Lalu Prasad in Patna,” said a senior party leader.
Rahul Gandhi had earlier indicated that he might be present at the Patna rally as Lalu has been a long-time friend and supporter of the Gandhis.
BSP chief Mayawati is also not going to attend the rally but is sending BSP's general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra as her representative.
Yadav told The Times of India that West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has confirmed her presence at his Sunday rally. He also claimed that JD(U)'s rebel former president and Rajya Sabha member Sharad Yadav would also attend the rally with his supporters.
Their presence at his rally, however, may affect its prospects as Lalu and his son are embroiled in cases of corruption, analysts said.
Lalu is attempting a major show of strength in wake of his ouster from the Bihar government as the JD(U) chose to ally with BJP.
The RJD chief is trying to put up a major show where he is seeking to showcase a formidable grouping of opposition leaders to take on the JD(U)-BJP combine in Bihar.
The Congress is seeking to unite the opposition under a joint platform to take on Narendra Modi's might and halt his winning streak in various states.
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