TMC to launch Lok Sabha poll campaign with mega rally in Kolkata today
PTI, Mar 10, 2024, 10:41 AM IST
TMC party supremo Mamata Banerjee (Credit: PTI / File)
Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress will launch its Lok Sabha poll campaign with a grand rally on Sunday at Kolkata’s famed Brigade Parade Grounds, where party supremo Mamata Banerjee is expected to set the tone for the upcoming elections.
Christened ‘Jana Garjan Sabha’, the mega event will feature three platforms, including a cross ramp, with Mamata Banerjee and TMC’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee taking centre-stage as the main speakers.
The rally’s overarching theme revolves around the alleged withholding of the state’s financial dues by the central government, a contentious issue that has dominated state politics for the past two years.
Lakhs of supporters and numerous block-level leaders were seen in the morning flocking from different districts to hear their leader, affectionately called ‘Didi’.
“We are organising a rally at Brigade Parade Grounds after a long time. It is going to be a historic event. Our party supremo Mamata Banerjee will give a message which we will take to every nook and corner of West Bengal and ensure the defeat of the BJP in all the 42 Lok Sabha seats of the state,” TMC leader Firhad Hakim said.
The TMC’s mega rally at the Brigade Parade Grounds, a historic site initially established as a parade ground during the British colonial era, holds significance as this is the party’s first large-scale gathering at Maidan since the January 2019 opposition meeting, where leaders from 19 opposition parties joined forces in a display of solidarity.
Despite its well-entrenched grassroots organisation, the TMC’s tally dropped to 22 seats from 34 in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, whereas BJP clocked an impressive performance by clinching 18 seats in the state.
Sources within the TMC suggested the possibility of significant defections from other political parties, particularly the BJP, which has seen eight MLAs and two MPs crossing over to the ruling party in the state since the 2021 assembly polls.
In a departure from conventional rally setups, the Trinamool Congress has opted for ramps to facilitate closer interaction between leaders and supporters during speeches. The three main stages interconnected by ramps aim to enhance engagement and connect with the grassroots.
Meanwhile, the BJP has derided the TMC’s programme, branding it as the party’s “farewell rally”.
Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari disparaged TMC’s leaders as “goons and corrupt,” predicting their “impending downfall”.
In a countermove, the BJP plans to hold a rally in Sandeshkhali, where allegations of sexual abuse against TMC leaders have surfaced.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Sabarimala: Pilgrims to be permitted through online booking only this year
Congress most corrupt party, MVA only knows how to stall development: PM in poll-bound Maharashtra
Madurai-bound flight returns to Chennai airport due to technical snag
India will be among leading exporters of defence equipment in 10 years, says DRDO chairman
Man arrested for allegedly trying to derail Patal Express train in UP’s Lalitpur
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Farmer’s daughter Sowmya CM will represent India in the Miss Globe 2024 at Albania
Sabarimala: Pilgrims to be permitted through online booking only this year
Congress most corrupt party, MVA only knows how to stall development: PM in poll-bound Maharashtra
Janardhan Reddy accuses Siddaramaiah of amassing Rs 5,000 crore benami assets
Renukaswamy Murder Case: Bail plea of actor Darshan postponed again
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.