KOLKATA: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has withdrawn from tomorrow's rally of Left parties and Congress in West Bengal. Rahul, who is currently visiting Tamil Nadu, is expected to stay there till March 1. In Kerala, the Congress is contesting against the Left, but in Bengal, the two parties are contesting in an alliance.

Rahul's withdrawal was prompted by warnings from state Congress leaders that the BJP might raise the issue in Kerala if he attends the rally supporting the Left parties. It is important for the declining Congress at the national level to return to power in Kerala.