CPI, Congress put up show of strength with Patna rally

Patna: The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Thursday organised a massive show of strength through its “BJP Hatao Desh Bachao” rally in Patna.

In a display of opposition unity against the NDA, political heavyweights including Congress party’s Ghulam Nabi Azad, JD(U) rebel leader Sharad Yadav, former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, Dalit leader from Gujarat Jignesh Mawani, CPI (ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhatt-acharya and former JNUSU president Kanha-iya Kumar shared a dais at the rally organized by CPI.

However, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav gave the rally a miss, choosing to send emissaries instead.

After the rally, Kanhaiya Kumar in a tweet said, “Different flowers make bouquet more colourful. Unity in diversity is the strength of India. Oppos-ition leaders are trying to give this message to the whole country from Patn-a’s Gandhi Maidan.”

Sources said Kanhaiya Kumar being considered as a joint candidate by the grand secular alliance has given hope to the left parties who have been trying to regain its support base in Bihar.

Kanhaiya has been politically active in the state after CPI recently gave hints that he may contest 2019 general elections from Begusarai. Reports suggest that he also has the support of the RJD and Congress party and his name is likely to be announced after seat sharing is finalised among allies.

While addressing the rally Congress leader Ghu-lam Nabi Azad blamed Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for ‘betraying the mandate’ by walking out of the grand secular alliance and forming a government with BJP.

“All anti-BJP forces must come together and form an alliance to save our constitution and democracy. I still remember how Nitish Kumar used to talk about the formation of a secular front but now he has changed sides and gone back to the BJP”, said Congress party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Political analysts are of the opinion that both Congress and left parties are trying to send a message of “unity” to its supporters through “BJP Hatao Desh Bachao” rally organised by the CPI.

The Congress party has also been trying to regain its lost vote bank in Bihar. Bhumihars and other upper castes were once traditional voters of the Congress party but after the emergence of regional parties in Bihar, they switched over to the BJP.