Now that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has distanced itself from Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Joro Nyay Yatra, the CPI(M) has jumped in to fill the breach, promising greater participation with heavyweight leaders in Malda and Murdhidabad during the second phase of the Yatra’s route through West Bengal.

Rahul’s Yatra from Bihar is scheduled to enter Malda district on Wednesday and traverse Murshidabad district on Thursday. The Congress has only two MPs in Bengal (from Malda Dakshin and Berhampur seats, both in the two districts), though neither the Congress nor the Left Front has any MLAs in the state.

“We have received an invitation. We will attend the rally in Malda and Murshidabad. While leaders like Sujan Chakraborty will be present in Malda, I will be present in Murshidabad,” said Md Selim, CPI(M) state secretary, to the media.

According to CPI(M) sources, the party’s state leaders and especially youth leaders, will be present at the Yatra in a show of solidarity with the Congress, along with Politburo member Selim and Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty.

Sources also stated that DYFI leader and the party’s projected face in the state, Meenakshi Mukherjee, has also been invited and is likely to attend.

On Sunday, while Rahul Gandhi covered Siliguri, CPI(M) state secretariat member Jibesh Sarkar was seen with party workers joining the rally.

“We had always supported the Yatra. We had also made it clear that we can’t be there if the TMC is around. Now that the TMC has not only distanced itself from the Yatra, but is indirectly trying to disturb its progress — we saw some people displaying posters against the Congress in Coochbehar — our leaders and workers will be there in Malda and Murshidabad in a show of unity,” said a senior CPI(M) leader.

According to political observers, though, the show of strength in Malda and Murshidabad — the state’s two minority-dominated districts — is essential to the electoral prospects of both the Congress and the CPI(M), since both parties are trying to woo minority voters back to their fold.

The two parties have had an on-and-off electoral alliance in the past, which includes the 2016 and 2021 Assembly polls. However, early into INDIA bloc talks, the CPI(M) had made it clear that it would not go with the TMC in Bengal. Accordingly, before the Yatra entered Bengal, the Left party told the Congress leadership that it would not be able to participate in case the TMC leadership was seen at the rally. Their hesitation quickly changed after TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on January 24 announced that her party will go it alone in Bengal, and only take a call on any national alliance after the Lok Sabha polls.

Though the Congress has kept its door open for the TMC, as it pushes for a broad anti-BJP front, Mamata is yet to react to their overtures. In fact, the Chief Minister will be in North Bengal to attend state government programmes, while Rahul’s Yatra enters Malda.