United India Rally: Mamata Banerjee Welcomes National Leaders & Supporters at Brigade Parade Grounds for the Mega Event
The rally at Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata is seen as Mamata's effort at uniting the Opposition against the ruling BJP ahead of the all crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elections and project herself as the face of the united Opposition.
Kolkata, January 19: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, in a tweet before the TMC mega rally titled 'United India Rally' which will see leaders of various political parties from the Opposition in attendance, has tweeted before the rally on "cherishing the idea of India." The TMC chief wrote in her tweet that "Only few hours to go for the historic 'United India Rally' at Brigade Parade Grounds. I welcome all national leaders, supporters and lakhs of people to participate in today's rally to pledge to build a stronger, progressive and united India." Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi to Skip Mamata Banerjee’s Opposition Rally in Kolkata.
The rally at Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata is seen as Mamata's effort at uniting the Opposition against the ruling BJP ahead of the all crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Speaking to the media on Friday, 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."
Read the Tweet by Mamata Banerjee in the Tweet Below:
Congress President Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday and extended his support to her January 19 rally in Kolkata. Rahul Gandhi Writes Letter Extending Support to TMC Rally, Mamata Banerjee Says 'It Will Mark the Death Knell for BJP'.
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.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 19, 2019 10:59 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).