The stage is all set for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's mega Opposition rally against the Narendra Modi government here on Saturday.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's mega Opposition rally against the Narendra Modi government witnessed massive footfall on Saturday.
Leaders of all the opposition parties except the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the CPI(M)-led Left Front took part in the rally, which the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has said will sound the "death knell" for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
"Only few hours to go for the historic 'United India Rally' at the 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 #UnitedIndiaAtBrigade," Banerjee, who is also the TMC chief, said in a tweet in the morning.
In the rally, almost all leaders stressed on the need to get together to stop the BJP juggernaut.
More than 20 national leaders, including former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, his son and Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Sharad Pawar, Farooq Abdullah, Sharad Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Hemant Soren and former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang, reached Kolkata on Friday to take part in the rally.
Arvind Kejriwal too attended the rally and spoke against the BJP leadership.
Satish Chandra Mishra represented BSP in the mega opposition show of strength.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Abhishek Manu Singhvi was Congress representatives in the rally.
Large-scale preparations were made to ensure that the rally turns out to be massive success. Besides the huge stages, 20 watchtowers have been erected and 1,000 microphones and 30 LED screens put up so that the spectators could see the leaders and hear them speak clearly.
As many as 10,000 security personnel were deployed in and around the venue of the rally and around 400 police pickets took a close watch of the proceedings.
Lakhs of TMC supporters and workers attended the rally and many added dash of colour with face paints, innovative messaging.
A cultural milieu at Brigade Parade Grounds... Adivasis arriving at #UnitedIndiaAtBrigade rally pic.twitter.com/32blPIOHM4
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) January 19, 2019
All images courtesy AITC
1. TMC supporters came from all parts of West Bengal
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2. 'Dilli Chalo' was clarion call of supporters
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3. Bronze finish
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4. Innovative mascot
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5. TMC supporters highlighting Mamata govt's success
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6. Lepcha community in attendance
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Apart from Lepcha community, Bhutia community too marked their presence
Members of Bhutia community arrive at #UnitedIndiaAtBrigade rally pic.twitter.com/BofwT2jkDY
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) January 19, 2019
7. Next target is Parliament for TMC
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8. Riot of colours
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The beats of dhamsa-madol are reverberating in the air at Brigade Parade Grounds. #UnitedIndiaAtBrigade pic.twitter.com/HY33X6Ssfd
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) January 19, 2019
