Nine opposition parties were present at the rally held in Srinagar today to mark the culmination of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the number falling way below the expectations of the Congress that had hoped to project the yatra finale as a starting point for opposition unity.
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and People's Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti, who had also walked with former Congress President Rahul Gandhi during the yatra as it passed through the valley, were present at the rally.
Apart from them, DMK leader Tiruchi Shiva and CPI General Secretary D. Raja were the more recognisable of the opposition leaders present on the dais.
The nine parties that attended the rally comprised NC, PDP, DMK, JMM, BSP, CPI, RSP, VCK and IUML. BSP's Shyam Yadav was, however, present in the rally in his individual capacity.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had sent invitations to leaders of 21 'like-minded' parties to the concluding event of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. It was perceived as an effort to project the event as a show of unity of the opposition in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
However, many of the parties cold shouldered the event as evidence from their absence. These included frenemies like the Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party. But even friendlier parties like the NCP, the JD(U) and the RJD stayed away.
DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had flagged off the 'Yatra' in Kanyakumari in September. But he deputed party leader Tiruchi Shiva to attend the Srinagar rally.
JD(U) had last week announced its 'inability' to join the culmination event of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, citing another party event.
Congress leaders said it was wrong to say that the opposition was not on board with regard to the yatra. It was pointed out by them that many opposition leaders had shown their solidarity with the yatra by walking with Rahul even if their parties could not attend the rally in Srinagar.
