TMC to announce LS candidates from mega poll rally in Kolkata today
In a departure from conventional rally setups, the party has opted for ramps to facilitate closer interaction between leaders and supporters during speeches
The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress is set to announce its candidate list for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on Sunday (March 10) at a mega election rally at Kolkata's famed Brigade Parade Grounds.
Christened 'Jana Garjan Sabha', the mega event will feature three platforms, including a cross ramp, with Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress (TMC)’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee taking centre-stage as the main speakers.
The main tone of the campaign will revolve around the state’s allegation that the Centre has withheld its financial dues, a contentious issue that has dominated state politics for the past two years.
First large-scale gathering at Maidan since 2019
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.
Defections from BJP likely, say TMC sources
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 TMC 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.
(With inputs from agencies)