Kolkata: With the BJP's recent electoral defeats in three states, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) — eyeing a wider political space for the last few years — is looking forward to play a pivotal role to fight against the saffron brigade ahead of the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
At present, the TMC has 34 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats from West Bengal. However this time, party chief Mamata Banerjee is working on winning all the 42 seats, while BJP's Amit Shah has set the target at 23 seats.
Banerjee, in her bid to form the 'Federal Front', has requested all the regional party leaders to join TMC's mega public meet at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on January 19.
TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee said that top leaders, including National Conference's (NC) Farooq Abdullah, DMK President MK Stalin, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar, noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani and BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha, will attend the event.
Speaking to News18.com, national vice-president of Samajwadi Party, Kiranmoy Nanda, said, "I don’t know about other party leaders, but Akhilesh Yadav ji is certainly attending the public meet called by Banerjee on January 19 in Kolkata. We are participating."
When asked why the SP thinks that they should be a part of Mamata's public meet, he said, "Mamata Banerjee has emerged as a top leader among others when it comes to fight against the BJP."
However, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is yet to take call on the TMC's January 19 meet. “Mayawati hasn't taken any decision in this regard so far. She will take the call if and when it is necessary," BSP Spokesperson Sudhindra Bhadoria told News18 over telephone.
Banerjee had said that this mega show will be a turning point for the country and will help regional parties unite against the BJP. She has already formed various committees comprising senior party leaders to make this meet a great success.
"Many parties have already confirmed their participation for the rally. It will be a turning point for 2019," she had said.
There are four committees, including accommodation, reception, transportation and campaign, will look after the guests and party supporters coming from other states.
When asked Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and in-charge of West Bengal about party’s participation in the rally, he said, "The AICC is well aware of Mamata ji's event and someone will attend it. It is yet to be decided who will attend."
State Congress President Somendra Nath Mitra said that central leadership has been invited and it is up to them to attend it or not.
Sources said, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is non-committal about their participation. BJD leader Sameer Das said, "BJD has not taken any decision (as of now) whether to send anyone to attend Mamata ji's public meet in Kolkata."
Even, Telangana CM and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President K Chandrashekar Rao is yet to take the call whether he will personally attend the meet or he will send someone else from his party.
TRS MP Balka Suman was not available for his comment despite repeated attempts and senior party leader Keshav Rao was unavailable as he is admitted in a hospital for endoscopy.
CPI is also not attending it, said party’s state secretary Swapan Banerjee. Other regional parties like Telugu Desam Party's (TDP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) confirmed that they are participating in it.
“Our CM N Chandrababu Naidu will personally attend the meeting in Kolkata,” TDP Spokesperson Lanka Dinakar said, adding that from Kolkata, Naidu will proceed for Davos to attend World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.
RJD Spokesperson Manoj Jha, said, "Tejashwi Yadav ji keen to attend the meet but he has some engagement in Delhi on same day. I think he will work out something to attend the mega public meet in Kolkata. We are hopeful that the Mamata di's call for Federal Front will work to oust the BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha Poll."
On January 19, 2019, entire city will turn into a fortress as more than 5,000 police personnel will be deployed. There will be 20 ambulances positioned around the venue. There will be six watch towers and nearly 300 CCTV cameras for round-the-clock monitoring.
Heavy Radio Flying Squads (HRFS), Quick Response Teams (QRT), Bomb squad, Dog Squad and Reserve Force from Kolkata Police will be deployed to prevent any law and order situation in the city.
More than 10 lakh people are expected to attend the January 19 meeting. On the other side, state BJP is trying to organise PM Narendra Modi's rally to counter Banerjee's Brigade rally.
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