Congress president Sonia Gandhi [ Images ] and Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar [ Images ] will share a political platform on January 31 for the first time since Pawar split the Congress to form the NCP in 1999.

The two will address a rally of Banjara tribals at Digras in Yavatmal district, about 230 km from Nagpur.

Sonia will also inaugurate a sugar co-operative factory run by tribals, Maharashtra [ Images ] Pradesh Congress Committee president Ranjeet Deshmukh said.

The rally will mark the golden jubilee celebrations of the All India [ Images ] Banjara Seva Sangh.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde will be present at the rally.