CPIML Liberationgeneral secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya on Tuesday said Rahul Gandhi had revived the Congress through his Bharat Jodo Yatra and could be a candidate for Prime Minister during next year’s general election.

“Rahul Gandhi has revived the Congress through his Bharat Jodo Yatra. He has infused a fresh breath of lifeinto it. He can also be a prime ministerial candidate in the next general election,” Bhattacharya said.

“Going by the reaction of the BJP, Rahul’s Yatra can be termed successful. New issues are coming up because of it. The people have supported it. So far so good.”

Bhattacharya was in Patna to oversee preparations for his party’s 11th congress, scheduled from February 15 to 20.

Asked about the possibility of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar being theOpposition’s candidate for Prime Minister, Bhattacharya said he would not rule anyone out.

“(Different) people are envisaging different roles for Nitish. Some see for him the role once played by JayaprakashNarayan, who provided guidance to leaders (in the 1970s). Some are looking to him to play the role of Prime Minister. We are not ruling anybody out,” he said.

Bhattacharya said his party would do its bit for Opposition unity by inviting leaders of all non-NDA parties to a conclave during the CPIML Liberation convention to discuss the possibility and necessity of coming together on an anti-BJP platform.

“All the Opposition parties have taken to the streets now and that is a good sign. Their unity could have different possible dimensions. It could be abroad-based unity instead of a tight, close-knit unity,” he said.

“It could be a pre-poll or apost-poll alliance or a mixture of both. The multi-party and multi-leader alliance will be the Opposition’s strength instead of its weakness.”