New Delhi, January 18: Congress President Rahul Gandhi, in a letter to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, has extended his support to her January 19 rally in Kolkata where majority of the Opposition leaders would be present to register their protest against the Narendra Modi led central government. However, the rally will which will not be attended by the Left parties. Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi to Skip Mamata Banerjee’s Opposition Rally in Kolkata.

In a letter addressed to Mamata Banerjee, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that "hope that we send a powerful message of a powerful India together." Mamata Banerjee Meets Sonia, Rahul Gandhi; Pitches For Opposition Unity to Defeat BJP in 2019.

Read the Letter in the Tweet Below:

The Congress will be represented by its leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, who has been deputed by the party leadership at the joint opposition rally, as neither its chief Rahul Gandhi or UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will be in attendance.

According to sources, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is yet to decide on whether its chief Mayawati will attend the Trinamool Congress (TMC) rally that will also be attended by former JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav is likely to reach Kolkata a day earlier on January 18. He will be present at the opposition rally, which is expected to be a show of opposition unity ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

The Left parties, which are boycotting Banerjee’s rally, will be present on February 3 in Kolkata where they have organised a mega event, CPI national secretary D Raja said. Banerjee, the TMC chief, is organising the rally to gather support for a pan-India anti-BJP front and has invited a host of opposition leaders from across the country.

Mamata also reached the venue today to oversee the preparations at the Brigade Parade Grounds today. Speaking to the reporters, Banerjee said that it will be a historic mega rally and "will be a platform of all political parties to drive the BJP out." Mamata said that "the rally will mark the death knell for BJP."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 18, 2019 02:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).