Rahul to skip TMC-driven Opposition rally in Kolkata

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 18

Days after the BJP blew the poll bugle at its National Council meeting in Delhi, Opposition parties are  preparing to flex their muscles at a rally to be held at Kolkata’s historic Brigade Ground tomorrow (Saturday). Driven by Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, the message to take on the BJP-ruled ‘communal’ alliance will resonate loud and clear at the gathering. TMC sources say a mammoth crowd of 40 lakh is expected at the rally, with an estimated 4 lakh already having converged on the city. 

Those expected to share the stage with Didi are AkhileshYadav (SP), Satish Misra (BSP), CB Naidu (TDP), MK Stalin (DMK), HD Kumaraswamy and HD Deve Gowda (JDS), Arvind Kejriwal (AAP), Farooq Abdullah and  Omar Abdullah (NC), Tejashwi Yadav (RJD) Sharad Pawar (NCP), Ajit Singh/Jayant Chowdhury (RLD) and former JD-U leader Sharad Yadav. The BJD, TRS and Left Parties will, however, be missing.

The BJP Lok Sabha MP from Patna Sahib, Bihar, Shatrughan Sinha, too is expected to join forces with former party colleagues-turned-critics of Modi — Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie. Former Arunachal Pradesh CM Gegong Apang,  who recently resigned from the primary membership of the BJP after a scathing criticism of the top leadership in a letter to BJP president Amit Shah, is expected  to be a part of the Opposition rally. 

Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren (JMM), Leader of the Opposition in Mizoram  Lalduwahawma (ZNP) and young firebrands Hardik Patel and Jignesh Mevani too will attend the rally, said sources. 

AICC chief Rahul Gandhi has nominated senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge to represent the Congress. Ahead of the big event, Hardik Patel took to Twitter to question the ongoing “Vibrant Gujarat” summit and investment figures in thousands of crores claimed by the government. “When will the people get jobs,” he asked, taking a dig at PM Modi.