Mamata reaches Brigade Parade ground to preside over mega anti-BJP rally
Kolkata, Jan 19 (IBNS): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday reached the iconic Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata and began the proceedings of a mega rally of all anti-BJP leaders who descended on the eastern city to launch a campaign to oust the Modi government in the upcoming general elections.
From anti-Modi BJP leader like Shatrughan Sinha to Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Arvind Kejriwal and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav to DMK chief MK Stalin, all senior leaders of Indian regional and national parties have arrived in Kolkata to take part in the rally.
Former BJP leader Arun Shourie to Dalit leader like Jignesh Mevani to Janata Dal chief Sharad Yadav and Nationalist Congress Party head Sharad Pawar, top leaders of India have arrived in Kolkata since yesterday to take part in the rally dubbed as "United India Rally".
Ahead of the rally, Kolkata streets were almost smothered by the visages of the West Bengal Chief Minister in the trademark style of the Trinamool Congress supremo.
Beginning the proceedings of the day, Mamata Banerjee invited Hardik Patel to speak first, followed by leaders like Jignesh Mevani. She said she would speak last since she would want all to hear the guests of Bengal first.
While the Chief Minister has termed the rally as "United India Rally" political pundits view it as the pitching of the Bengal CM as a probable PM alternative if the BJP failed to return to power with majority or a fractured mandate gives the Opposition to keep BJP out of power.
In several street corner meetings, the tenor of the speeches ahead of the rally was not only attacking Modi and his policies but also projecting the CM as the next PM.
On Friday, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is skipping the rally, has interestingly sent a letter to Mamata supporting the political programme.
Referring to TMC supremo as "Mamata Di", Rahul said in a letter, "We commend the great people of Bengal who have historically been at the forefront of defending our ideals.
"I extend my support to Mamata Di on this show of unity and hope that we send a powerful message of a united India together."
Two Congress leaders, Mallikarjun Kharge and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, are also attending the event as their party representatives.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers, Farooq and Omar Abdullah, are also attending the rally.
Mamata, who went to the rally spot for an inspection on Thursday evening, compared Saturday's public meeting with that of former West Bengal Chief Minister late Jyoti Basu's one which was organised way back in 1989.
"I think all the leaders are coming. It is a platform to fight the 2019 battle against BJP. Every political party will give their message. Earlier in 1989, when Jyoti Basu was alive, he organised a rally that time. But the rally was not that big..... this one will also be historic and a mega rally," she said.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, who is considered to be the front-runner for the Prime Ministerial post if the so-called United Opposition comes to power, is sending her senior party leader Satish Mishra to be present at the TMC's rally.
Though the TMC supporters are not backing down from raising slogans to make Mamata the next Prime Minister, West Bengal's "Didi" played humble on Thursday saying, ".....I won't say anything this time, let all the leaders decide. I am waiting for others to speak. I will listen to others and won't impose my opinion on them because it is a democratic system."
When Congress chief Rahul is trying to portray a united picture of Opposition, Mamata reminded the country's oldest political outfit that it is the club of regional parties which will be a "factor" in the 2019 General Elections.
Almost predicting the number of seats the BJP could get, the TMC chief said: "I don't think the BJP will get more than 125. Even if they get 125, it is enough."
Responding to a question about the BJP's dig at the United Opposition, Mamata said: "Don't worry. Every political party has individual vision, philosophy and compulsion. I don't think there will be a problem. It will be the unity of people."
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