Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered Cooch Behar district in West Bengal on Thursday a day after the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee ruled out an alliance with the Congress party in the state for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

State Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, whose attacks on Banerjee have also been blamed for souring the ties between the two parties, welcomed Gandhi upon his arrival in the state.

Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said, “We attached the word ‘Nyay’ (justice) in yatra as injustice prevails across the country. INDIA bloc will fight against injustice.”

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The tensions between Congress and TMC threaten to jeopardise the prospects of the Opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). Both Congress and the TMC are constituents of the INDIA bloc formed to take on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Following a two-day hiatus on January 26-27, the Yatra will navigate through Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Uttar Dinajpur, and Darjeeling districts before entering Bihar on January 29.

The Bengal leg of the yatra spans 523 km across six districts and six Lok Sabha constituencies-Darjeeling, Raigunj, North and South Malda, and two in Murshidabad over five days. This marks Rahul Gandhi’s first visit to the state since the April-May 2021 assembly polls, PTI reported.

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The CPI (M) and Left parties, allies of the Congress within the state and the INDIA bloc at the national level, are expected to join the march. However, TMC has decided to abstain, citing a lack of information about the Yatra.

Banerjee on Wednesday said, “As a gesture of courtesy, did they (Congress) let me know that they are coming to Bengal for the Yatra? I am not aware of it.”

Reacting to Banerjee’s statement, senior Congress leader Deepa Dasmunsi said, “It seems the TMC is trying to help the BJP in the state.”

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In a setback to the opposition INDIA bloc, TMC boss Banerjee announced on Wednesday that her party would contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls independently. The surprise move left the grand old party stunned. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in Assam, “No one can imagine the existence of the opposition INDIA bloc without West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.”

The CPI (M)-led Left Front, Congress, and the TMC are part of the 28-party INDIA bloc.