Massive rally in Kolkata: United Opposition launches 2019 polls campaign

The Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata was witness to a historic show of unity against the autocratic and destructive policies of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government when leaders of more than 20 parties came together on a dais and addressed lakhs of people to sensitise them before the 2019 general elections.

In the presence of senior leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge and Abhishek Manu Singhvi of the Congress, Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference, Sharad Pawar of NCP and HD Devegowda of JD(S), and younger leaders like Akhilesh Yadav of SP, Jignesh Mevani, Hardik Patel and Tejaswi Yadav from RJD, the event heard the united Opposition's clarion call to defeat Modi.

Omar Abdullah of NC, N. Chandrababu Naidu from TDP, HD Kumaraswamy from JD(S), Arvind Kejriwal from AAP, Satish Mishra from BSP, MK Stalin from DMK, former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang, Lalduhawma of ZNP, Hemant Soren of JMM, Sharad Yadav, RLD’s Ajit Singh and Jayant Chaudhury, and BJP old guards Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and Shatrughan Sinha were also in attendance.

Congress veterans Mallikarjun Kharge and Abhishek Manu Singhvi represented the party while Kharge read out a message from Sonia Gandhi. Congress President Rahul Gandhi had earlier also written a letter of support to Mamata Banerjee.

The show of opposition’s strength and solidarity began with recitation of poetry and singing in the morning and the speeches took up the better part of four hours before the host Mamata Banerjee brought down the curtains with a call for ‘BJP Hatao’. With the rally, the first of several planned in the next few weeks, the opposition launched its campaign for the general election.

A few pertinent points were raised by nearly all the leaders:

• That the present government has demolished all democratic institutions

• That it has started rewriting history and peddling lies

• That the government is completely corrupt and working for the interest of a few corporates while ignoring the needs of the common people, especially farmers and labourers

• That the present government is purposefully creating religious, ethnic divides across India

• That the Constitution is under threat

While some leaders spoke about the need for the Opposition to remain united, a few went on to suggest that a one-on-one direct contest for every constituency was the best way to ensure that the BJP is completely wiped out.

All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) sources claimed that millions attended the rally. However, police sources said attendance was less than a million at the rally venue. A few lakh people could not reach the venue and were served meals in various parts of the city. Traffic was completely thrown off gear. More than 30 giant LED screens and more than 1000 loudspeakers have been used at the rally. More than 10,000 police and security personnel manned security of the high profile event attended by several sitting chief ministers, former Union ministers and former chief ministers.