In a sign of thaw in ties between the Congress and the Janata Dal(United), Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar has agreed to take part in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra in Purnea on January 30. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav will also attend the Purnea rally.

This was confirmed by Congress MLC and senior party leader Prem Chandra Mishra on Monday. “Rahul Gandhi will enter Bihar (from West Begal) on January 29 through Kishanganj and will attend a rally in Purnea on January 30. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has confirmed his participation in the Purnea rally,” Mishra told reporters, adding that Rahul would further travel to Araria and Katihar before re-entering West Bengal on February 1.

The Kishanganj Lok Sabha seat is currently held by the Congress. It is the only seat that the Mahagathbandhan won in the 2019 general elections. The Congress has focused on the Seemanchal region, comprising the Lok Sabha seats of Kishanganj, Araria, Purnea and Katihar. At present, the JD(U) represents Purnea and Katihar seats, while the BJP represents Araria.

Mishra, who has been made the chairman of the media committee for the Yatra, said Rahul’s yatra would cover 425 km and seven districts of Bihar in two phases.. “In the second leg, of which the schedule will be shared in due course, the Yatra will cover south Bihar districts of Aurangabad, Kaimur and Rohtas,” he said.

Lack of consensus on seat-sharing in Bihar for the Lok Sabha elections has led to speculation of frosty ties between the Congress and the JD(U). Nitish’s consent to attend the rally is being seen as a move to show solidarity among the INDIA bloc allies.

A JD(U) leader said: “We were never averse to Congress’s yatra, but had wanted to make it an INDIA bloc march. Now that Rahul Gandhi has decided to address a meeting in Purnea, Nitish Kumar would attend it. It will be a great sign of solidarity.”

An RJD leader said: “Deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav will attend the Purnea rally. We all are trying to put up a unified show for the INDIA bloc.”

Congress leader Mishra said an invitation has been extended to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, “who may attend the rally in Purnea, or at Katihar scheduled on January 31, as per his availability in view of an ED summons”.

The Enforcement Directorate has asked Prasad and his son Tejashwi, to appear at its office in Patna on January 29 and 30 respectively for questioning in connection with the alleged land-for-jobs scam.

Mishra said other alliance partners like state leaders of CPI and CPI(M), besides CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya “have also been invited and they have agreed to lend their support to the Yatra”.

(With PTI Inputs)