The Indian National Congress said it has invited 21 like-minded parties to participate in the concluding program of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar on January 30 to strengthen its message of harmony and equality.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has sent out the invite to presidents of the parties, NDTV reported.
According to the report, the list of invited parties includes the Trinamool Congress, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal-United, Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party, CPM, Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party and Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party.
Senior party leader and its communication chief Jairam Ramesh tweeted Mr. Kharge’s letter.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra, being led by Rahul Gandhi, has seen the participation of various like-minded parties and key figures from civil society and showbiz in its 3750-km route through the states.
It has, however, been cold-shouldered by many opposition parties — their absence underscoring the many-layered divisions in the camp a year ahead of the national elections.
The yatra is currently in Punjab, where it entered yesterday after Mr Gandhi paid his respects to the Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib.
In Jammu Kashmir, leaders of the National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party and the local unit of ally Shiv Sena will join the march. MY Tarigami of CPI, another member of the Gupkaar Alliance, will also attend.