Samikhsya Bureau
In what can be described as a prelude to the political alignment against the NDA, the proposed rally initiated by the Bangal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is aiming to send a chill down the spine of the BJP in particular . And that too in the backdrop of a scenario when the Prime minister Narendra Modi and his close associates have sensed the fear of a bad weather in 2019 for the NDA.
If the recent outcomes in the three Hindi heartlands Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh were symptoms of what to follow then the rally can be viewed as an unifying factor if all goes well. Regardless of what the BJP braves up to keep its morale high but the fear within in the eventuality of a fractured mandate in 2019 it can not ignore the reality that, something is building up within.
The stage is all set for tomorrow’s mega Brigade Parade Ground rally what
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee calls a ‘United India Rally’ to take a pledge to build a strong, united
and progressive India.
The Trinamool Chairperson said, ‘ The mega rally on Saturday will be ‘United India Rally’ as the stage will be set for the fight against the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Every leader will share their party’s message on the occasion. ”
This year’s rally will be bigger than the one held forty years ago at the same venue, she said
adding, ‘ It is important to listen to the other leaders who are coming on January 19. We will listen to all points of view. We will not foist our ideology on anybody. This is a democratic system. So let everybody give their opinion. This is a courtesy. ”
Regarding the coming general elections, she said, ‘ The regional parties will play a significant role. The BJP will not get more than 125 seats. It will be an alliance of political parties with the people. ‘
It may be mentioned that in 1993, Ms Banerjee organised a mega rally at Brigade, where she sounded the death knell for the Left Front Government.
Ms Banerjee asserted that the rally will see participation of non-BJP parties from “Kashmir to Kanyakumari”, saying, ‘ You will witness how big the representation will be this year from all regions. Heavyweight national leaders, including a former Prime Minister and ex-Chief Ministers will attend this meeting. ‘
The TMC supremo said the leaders of various political parties, including Congress, are expected to spell their opinion about the proposed United Federal Front and opposition to the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
The rally as Ms Banerjee described a ‘Mega Rally’ would be attended by several chief ministers, former chief ministers, ex-Prime Ministers and important party leaders. There will be leaders from Delhi, Bihar, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Arunachal, Mizoram, and many other states.
To accommodate political leaders, delegates and celebrities at the rally, the five stages being built include one main dais at the middle, opposite the Victoria Memorial Hall, where Ms Banerjee and TMC heavyweights like Abhishek Banerjee, Partha Chatterjee and Subrata Bakshi would be present alongside the leaders of a number of anti-BJP parties scheduled to attend from across the country.
On the right of the main stage, there will be two stages, one for the MPs and state ministers and another for the district presidents and functionaries.
On the left of the main dais will be two stages — one for those from the cultural world and on the other cultural programmes will be held.
There will be ten watch towers and 1,000 microphones and LED screens so that those who will be present at the rally can see and hear the speeches of the leaders more vividly.
The venue will be divided into 22 zones to manage the massive gathering.
In each zone, a deputy commissioner-rank officer of Kolkata Police will be present to monitor the security arrangements.
Along with 5000 police personnel, 3,000 party volunteers will also be present at the meeting to man the crowd, a senior party leader said.
Meanwhile, BSP chief Mayawati said on Thursday that she will be sending senior party leader Satish Chandra Mishra to join the anti-BJP rally in Kolkata.
Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang who has recently resigned from the BJP will also join the rally.
The other leaders who have confirmed their participation are Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, JD(S) chief HD Deve Gowda, Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, Babulal Marandi of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), Former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie, RLD Chief Ajit Singh, National Conference’s (NC) Farooq Abdullah, DMK president MK Stalin, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar, BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha, SP’s Akhilesh Yadav, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, Patidarq Quota agitation leader Hardik Patel.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Telangana CM and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K Chandrashekar Rao, CPI(M) and CPI are non-committal about their participation.
Also none from the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) will attend the rally.
(with UNI inputs )
