Throughout the yatra’s route in Malda district, once a Congress stronghold, CPI(M) supporters were seen carrying the party’s red flags and shouting slogans for Rahul.

CPI(M) state committee member Shatarup Ghosh met Rahul during his lunch break at Debipur. After lunch, Ghosh accompanied Rahul to Pukuria on the Yatra bus.

“During his conversation with Shatarup Ghosh, Rahul Gandhi asked him about the youth in Bengal, what they think and what are their problems that need to be addressed,” a senior Congress leader told The Indian Express.

Senior CPI(M) leaders Md Selim and Sujan Chakraborty are expected to join Yatra in Berhampore on Thursday. During Rahul Gandhi’s first leg of Yatra in Bengal, CPI(M) leader Jibesh Sarkar walked with Rahul in Siliguri.

Addressing people who thronged the road in Malda, Rahul said that the people of Bengal are known for their intelligentsia. “So, Bengal has to fight against the ideology of RSS and hate politics. Bengal has to stand united against this hate politics,” he said, repeating his slogan — “Nafrat ke bazaar mein, mohabbat ka dukan kholne aayein hai (Have come to open the shops of love in the market of hate).”

He also did not attack the Trinamool Congress and reiterated that if the Congress is voted to power in the coming Lok Sabha elections, it will conduct a caste census in the country.

Meanwhile, the Malda district administration did not allow Rahul to take a lunch break at the Bhaluka Irrigation Department bungalow. As a result, Ranhul took a lunch break in Debipur.