Ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the political parties are gearing up in their political campaigns. In the east, the West Bengal Chief Minister, and the TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee is on the radar of taking jibe of the opposition BJP.
However, Mamata Banerjee is all set to launch its Lok Sabha campaign with a grand rally today (March 10th) in Kolkata’s famed Brigade Parade Grounds. It is expected that CM Banerjee will expect tone for the upcoming elections.
Named ‘Jana Garjan Sabha’, the large-scale gathering will showcase three platforms, including a cross ramp, where Mamata Banerjee and TMC’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will be the key speakers.
The rally’s primary focus centers on the purported withholding of the state’s financial dues by the central government, a contentious matter that has been the focal point of state politics for the last two years.
In the morning, crowds numbering in the lakhs and a multitude of block-level leaders were observed converging from various districts to listen to their leader, affectionately referred to as ‘Didi’.
“We are arranging a rally at Brigade Parade Grounds after a considerable hiatus. This event holds immense historical significance. Our party chief Mamata Banerjee will convey a message that we will carry to every corner of West Bengal, ensuring the defeat of the BJP in all 42 Lok Sabha seats of the state,” stated TMC leader Firhad Hakim.
The TMC’s grand rally at the Brigade Parade Grounds, a historic venue initially designated as a parade ground during the British colonial period, is noteworthy as it marks the party’s first major gathering at Maidan since the opposition meeting in January 2019, where leaders from 19 opposition parties united in a show of solidarity.
Despite its robust grassroots organization, the TMC’s seat count decreased from 34 to 22 in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, while the BJP made significant gains by securing 18 seats in the state.
Sources within the TMC have hinted at the possibility of notable defections from other political parties, particularly the BJP, which has witnessed eight MLAs and two MPs defecting to the ruling party in the state since the 2021 assembly polls.
Departing from traditional rally arrangements, the Trinamool Congress has opted for ramps to facilitate closer interaction between leaders and supporters during speeches. The setup with three main stages interconnected by ramps aims to foster greater engagement and connection with the grassroots.
