PM's Kolkata rally decked with 'surprises'; Mithun to attend event

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public rally at the iconic Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on Sunday (March 7). This will be his first rally in election-bound West Bengal after the BJP announced its first list of candidates for the first two phases on Saturday.

The Sunday rally is said to be culmination of the BJP’s “Parivartan Yatra” and the party has planned to make it a grand success with a record crowd presence which the central Kolkata ground has never witnessed, topped with several speculations regarding its guest list.

Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty will attend the Sunday rally, senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya has confirmed. Vijayvargiya, BJP’s West Bengal observer, met the actor at his Belgachhia residence in Kolkata on Saturday and had talks till late night. Once considered close to CPI(M), Chakraborty was Rajya Sabha MP for TMC before he quit politics.

Reports suggest Bollywood star Akshay Kumar is also expected to join the prime minister at the rally. Party insiders are hinting at more surprises. Speculations were rife that BCCI president Sourav Ganguly may join the Brigade rally, but days back he said in an interview to a news channel, “Not everyone is meant for every role”.

There’s a buzz about another big name from the “cultural field” joining the Modi rally on Sunday, triggering speculations that it could be Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee. He has, however, denied this as rumour, stating he’s currently shooting in Pune. “I stay focused on what I know best – acting,” he had said last month, dismissing any political ambition.

Besides, several sitting Trinamool Congress MLAs who have failed to get party tickets for seeking re-election may also turn up at the rally, it is being speculated. These include ex-Mamata aide Sonali Guha who had publicly voiced her willingness to join the BJP. Shibpur MLA Jotu Lahiri too has resigned over not getting a ticket this time. Cricketer Manoj Tiwary has been fielded from his seat this time by the Mamata Banerjee-led party.

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A BJP leader said that the prime minister will set the tone of the high-octane poll campaign at Brigade rally on Sunday, which will be the first major event of the saffron party in West Bengal after declaration of eight-phase elections in the state.

After having a limited presence in the politically polarised state for decades, the BJP has emerged as the ruling Trinamool Congress’s main rival by winning 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal 2019 general elections, only four less than TMC’s tally of 22.

With the BJP’s strength increasing in the state in the last few years, its leaders are upbeat that the party will end Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s 10-year rule in the state polls.

Elections for the West Bengal assembly will be held in eight phases beginning with polling for 30 seats on March 27. Votes will be counted on May 2.

(With inputs from agencies)