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  Metros   Kolkata  18 Jan 2019  Galaxy of Opposition leaders to address TMC mega rally

Galaxy of Opposition leaders to address TMC mega rally

PTI
Published : Jan 18, 2019, 6:00 am IST
Updated : Jan 18, 2019, 6:00 am IST

The Trinamul Congress also said it will break all records in terms of people attending the rally at the Brigade Parade grounds.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Trinamul Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee and other leaders at Brigade Parade ground to inspect the preparation for the January 19 rally, on Thursday. (Photo: Asian Age)
 Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Trinamul Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee and other leaders at Brigade Parade ground to inspect the preparation for the January 19 rally, on Thursday. (Photo: Asian Age)

Kolkata: The mega opposition rally, to be hosted by Trinamul Congress at the Brigade Parade ground here on Saturday, is also expected to see leaders of Congress, TDP, SP, BSP, RJD, JD(S), NCP, DMK, National Conference and Aam Admi Party (AAP) among others sharing the dias to give a clarion call to oust the BJP-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) coalition government at the Centre in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

A senior TMC leader said it is a big achievement that all opposition parties will be on one platform ahead of the general elections, making it a defining moment in Indian politics. The party leaders said the BSP has confirmed its participation.

The meeting will also be attended by SP’s Akhilesh Yadav and RLD’s Ajit Singh and Jayant Chaudhury. Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has drafted its senior leader Satish Mishra for the rally.

Among those to be present at the rally include Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav, Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu, Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal and Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.

National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and DMK’s M.K. Stalin and many other important leaders will also be present. The TMC said the rally will see participation of non-BJP parties from “Kashmir to Kanyakumari”.

However, the Left parties, led by the CPI(M), have decided not to attend the rally. Congress will be represented by senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge, but Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi will not be present.

The Trinamul Congress also said it will break all records in terms of people attending the rally at the Brigade Parade grounds. “This time you will witness that all the previous records at Brigade Parade grounds will be broken and will remain a unbreakable record for next several decades,” TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said.

For the Saturday rally, altogether five stages will be set up at the venue. The main stage will have West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and top leaders of various opposition parties. Two other stages have been built on the right hand side of the main stage which will have senior TMC leaders, MPs, MLAs and ministers. The intellectuals will be seated at two other stages on the left hand side of the main stage.

There will be 200 LED screens across the venue and Kolkata police has decided to use drones to monitor the security arrangements. Thousands of Kolkata police personnel will be deputed in and around the venue to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.

Tags: mamata banerjee