Congress invites Akhilesh Yadav for Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in UP after SP chief's 'no invite' remark

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge sent an invitation letter to Samajwadi Party chief to join Rahul Gandhi's after it enters Uttar Pradesh on February 16.

In addition to the invitation sent to the SP chief, the grand old party, on Sunday, said that yatra's programme in Uttar Pradesh will be shared with INDIA bloc constituents after the finalisation of its route in a day or two. The party also asserted that their participation would strengthen the alliance.

The development has come after the Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh Yadav, claimed of not receiving an invitation for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Disapproving the poor communication about the Bharat Jodo Yatra among INDIA bloc members, Akhilesh Yadav said, “The problem is that many big events take place, but we don't get an invite."

Soon after he remarked on Rahul Gandhi-led foot march, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the detailed route and programme of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Uttar Pradesh is being prepared and will be finalised in the coming days.

"After this, it will be shared with the constituent parties of INDIA bloc in the state. Their participation in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will further strengthen the INDIA bloc. The Yatra is expected to enter UP in the afternoon of February 16," Ramesh said in a post in Hindi.

This is not the first time when Congress has faced criticism from INDIA alliance parties for not inviting them to the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Earlier, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee took a swipe at the Congress for not inviting her to Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. In one of her media briefings, the TMC supremo said that she was not informed about Rahul Gandhi's foot march route and schedule in Bengal. As a result, she stayed away