K K Rao, All India Congress Committee (AICC) member in charge of West Bengal affairs, has hinted that he will not share the dais with Union Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee at her August 9 Lalgarh rally. Although Banerjee did not invite any of the leaders of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC), she has requested Rao to attend the rally, at which she is expected to repeat her demand for withdrawal of the joint forces deployed at Lalgarh.

The meeting has become a sensitive political issue since the Maoist-backed Peoples Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) has announced its participation. Moreover, Maoist strongman Kishenji has also assured Banerjee that the CPI (Maoist) would give full support for its rally’s success.

The invitation from Banerjee places Rao in an awkward position because of the Union government’s ongoing offensive against the Maoists in seven states. “I will be in Bengal on the day but I think cannot attend the rally because I have other engagements. If I get time, I shall try to go,” he told The Indian Express.

The Congress has several programmes scheduled to celebrate the 68th anniversary of the Quit India Movement on August 9. Party sources said, Rao is scheduled to attend a programme at Tamluk, East Midnapore, on this occasion.

“It is a fact that we have other programmes. Even if such a programme had not been scheduled, it would not have been possible for Rao to attend the Lalgarh rally for political reasons,” said a senior Congress leader.