Rahul Gandhi-Akhilesh Yadav joint rally in Kashi on May 28

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will hold a joint public meeting in support of INDIA bloc candidate Ajay Rai in Varanasi on May 28. AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav may also share the stage with them but their confirmation is awaited, sources said.

Rai is pitted against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the high-profile seat.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is also expected to join the meeting.

The party has sought permission from district administration for the meeting at Cutting memorial Inter College Ground in Nadesar area. Congress media cell deputy chairman Manish Hindwi along with other members of the cell would be camping in Varanasi to oversee the preparations for the mega rally.

Congress Sewa Dal chief Pramod Pandey said preventive steps are being taken to avoid a repeat of Prayagraj incident where Rahul and Akhilesh had to rush out after a ruckus broke out and a stampede-like situation led to a security threat at their joint meeting last Sunday.