The Trinamool Congress (TMC) will launch its Lok Sabha poll campaign with a grand rally on Sunday at Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata. The rally, named ‘Jana Garjan Sabha’, will be addressed by party supremo Mamata Banerjee and TMC’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee as the main speakers. The overarching theme of the rally will revolve around the alleged withholding of the state’s financial dues by the central government. This issue has been a major point of contention in West Bengal politics for the past two years. Thousands of supporters and block-level leaders from different districts are expected to attend the rally to hear Mamata Banerjee, affectionately called ‘Didi’. TMC leader Firhad Hakim stated that the rally aims to deliver a message to every corner of West Bengal and ensure the defeat of the BJP in all the 42 Lok Sabha seats of the state.
The mega rally at Brigade Parade Grounds holds significance as it marks the TMC’s first large-scale gathering at the venue since the January 2019 opposition meeting, where leaders from 19 opposition parties came together in a show of solidarity. Despite having a well-established grassroots organization, the TMC’s performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections dropped to 22 seats from 34, while the BJP recorded significant gains with 18 seats. Sources within the TMC have hinted at the possibility of significant defections from other political parties, including the BJP, which has witnessed several MLAs and MPs joining the ruling party in the state since the 2021 assembly polls.
To facilitate closer interaction between leaders and supporters during speeches, the Trinamool Congress has opted for ramps as a departure from conventional rally setups. The three main stages interconnected by ramps aim to enhance engagement and connect with the grassroots. On the other hand, the BJP has criticized the TMC’s rally, dismissing it as their ‘farewell rally’. Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has called TMC leaders ‘goons and corrupt,’ predicting their ‘impending downfall’. In response, the BJP plans to hold a rally in Sandeshkhali, where sexual abuse allegations against TMC leaders have surfaced.
