Barely 24 hours after Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee trashed the possibility of a pre-poll alliance with the Congress in Bengal, Rahul Gandhi, MP and top leader of the grand old party, continued to exude confidence in the unity of the Opposition INDIA bloc.

Gandhi’s Manipur-Mumbai Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra crossed over from Assam to Bengal at Baxirhat in Cooch Behar on Thursday morning where the leader was welcomed by Pradesh Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. “I feel overjoyed to come to Bengal and I am here to listen to what you have to say, to stand with you in your troubles. I thank my leaders and workers in Bengal to have showered such love in welcoming me,” Gandhi said, ahead of a brief tour of the district in his bus.

Gandhi will take a two-day break from his Yatra on account of the Republic day celebrations, and is scheduled to resume his travels from the same venue on January 28 covering some 637 kilometers across eight districts and 10 Lok Sabha constituencies of Bengal.

“We have added the word ‘Nyay’ (Justice) to this Yatra since there is ‘Anyay’ (Injustice) taking place in this country,” the leader said and maintained: “The BJP and RSS are spewing hate, violence and injustice. That’s why the INDIA coalition is going to fight against injustice together.”

Gandhi’s statement assumes significance in the wake of Mamata Banerjee declaring that she would consider her role in the alliance only post Lok Sabha elections and that she would not want the Congress to interfere in the regional party strongholds like Bengal.

It was also interesting to witness Gandhi making that confidence-in-Opposition-unity statement while being flanked by Chowdhury who has consistently opposed electoral ties with the Trinamul and whose sharp criticisms of the Trinamul supremo in the wake of unity messages from the party high-command has been seen as the deal breaker for the Trinamul leadership.

Gandhi’s convoy, however, met with protestors at the Jorai More near the Assam-Bengal who stood by the roads holding placards which read “Didi is enough for Bengal '' and rhymed slogans against Adhir Chowdhury. Though the protestors carried no flags or any visible identification marks of a political party, they made little attempts to hide that they were local Trinamul workers.

“We have no opposition to Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra. In fact, we believe that this Yatra is necessary to strengthen the Opposition INDIA bloc across the country. But we also think that Adhir Chowdhury’s comments against the Bengal chief minister are detrimental to the cause of unity,” said Indrajit Pal, a Trinamul Congress worker leading the protesters.

“We are trying to give a message to Adhir babu that he should mend his attitude towards our leader and accept an alliance in Bengal under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership,” Pal said.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh, on the other hand, countered Banerjee’s allegation that the Congress failed in its courtesy to even inform her about the Yatra passing through Bengal despite Trinamul being an integral part of the INDIA bloc. “Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had both written to her and e-mailed her informing her of Rahulji’s schedule in Bengal,” Ramesh said.

“She had been invited. Our leaders - Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi - all of them want leaders from TMC to come and participate in Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. We especially want CM Banerjee to come, even if it means managing to take 10-15 minutes out of her busy schedule. Her joining the Yatra will enhance its pride and impact,” Ramesh insisted.

“Mamata Banerjee is one of the most important pillars of the INDIA coalition. She is one of the tallest and most experienced leaders of this country. The Congress and its top leadership respects Mamata Banerjee and we all know that he holds a special place and recognition in the political landscape of this country,” the Congress spokesperson said and added: “We will find a solution to this impasse.”