KISHANGANJ, Aug. 13 -- Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' set to kickstart on August 17 from Rohtas is slated to reach Seemanchal's Katihar on August 23, but it will curiously give Muslim-majority district Kishanganj a miss. Congress leader skipping a key district at a time when the party is ramping election campaign has given rise to speculations that either the Congress is too complacent about its outreach to Muslims, or it is covertly eying a last-minute tie-up with Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Muslim Majlise Ittehdul Muslimeen (AIMIM). Interestingly, Kishanganj has been a Congress stronghold. Present MP from the district, Mohammed Jawed, has won two consecutive elections here. However, in the 2020 assembly elections, Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM made significant inroads here. It won four out of six assembly segments and overall five seats in Seemanchal region. The itinerary will not touch Kishanganj district whereas Rahul Gandhi is likely to stay in Araria on August 24 and will take a break next day before entering Mithilanchal's Madhubani through Supaul on August 26. "The itinerary will cross three districts of Seemanchal but much to my surprise, it will not touch Kishanganj, the district which is believed to set the fort of Muslim politics not only in Bihar but also in the whole country," a senior Muslim leader of Congress in Kishanganj told HT. He admitted that there has been surge in support for the AIMIM, especially in the rural areas. Political observers view Rahul's rally not passing through Kishanganj an act complacence on the part of Congress as the party views of Muslims of the area as its traditional vote bank. "The Congress party has been complacent when it comes to the Muslim vote bank. It was the complacent politics that established AIMIM as a major political force in Seemanchal which has been attracting Muslims," Purnia-based political observer, Prof N K Srivasatava said, adding that the Congress' mistakes may be AIMIM's gains and the party could repeat its 2020 performance. But political analysts also see it as a calculative move of the Congress to leave a space for possible alliance with the AIMIM. "As the party (Congress) lacks a strong workforce in rural areas, it can join hands with AIMIM," Prof Shubhankar Jha a professor of political science in Katihar told HT....