Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to represent his party at the Trinamool rally in Kolkata next Saturday.
The event is being pitched as yet another occasion to showcase a united Opposition to take on the BJP in the 2019 elections.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and NCP chief Sharad Pawar have taken the lead to bring all the major Opposition leaders together on the same platform at Kolkata's Brigade ground.
On January 9, Mr Gandhi, along with Mr Kharge, is learnt to have discussed this issue with Mr Pawar when he called on the NCP chief.
But the proposed picture of Opposition unity suffer a setback as Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will stay away from the event.
BSP chief Mayawati keen to project herself as a prime ministerial contender is unlikely to send any representative the event as the Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool chief is seen as a rival for the top post.
Ms Banerjee, too is a front runner for the leadership slot of a joint Opposition front.
Though Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav shares a cordial relationship with Trinamool, Mr Yadav is yet to spell out its stand about participating in the rally.
The Congress too is doing a balancing act. While Trinamool was keen on the presence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, neither Ms Gandhi nor her son,. Rahul Gandhi, would attend.
The Bengal unit of the Congress had urged Mr Gandhi not to attend the rally it would weaken the party's fight against Trinamool in Bengal. In fact, the Congress in Bengal had asked the high command not to send anyone to the rally.
However, declining the request, Mr Kharge is likely to represent his party. The party, however, is yet to make any official announcement in this regard. “A senior leader will attend,” said a senior Congress leader.