New Delhi/Kolkata, Jan 16 (UNI) Powered by the Supreme Court disallowing rath yatra in Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee government in the state has announced to launch a mega rally of Opposition leaders at the Brigade Parade Ground in the heart of Kolkata on January 19 to formulate 'strategies' for setting up the 'Grand Alliance' to 'oust the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre.'
According to reports, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Khagre and BJP's actor-turned 'rebel' MP Shatrughan Sinha have already confirmed their participation at the 'Mahagathbandhan' rally on Saturday.
BSP president Mayawati and a host of other Opposition leaders are also expected to attend the rally, the reports added.
' The January 19 Mega rally in Kolkata will decide the fate of 2019 Parliamentary Elections by forming the 'Grand Alliance' of Opposition leaders to dethrone the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre, ' Ms Banerjee has claimed.
The AITC Chairperson, who sparked row suggesting making a biopic on Mr Modi titled 'Disastrous Prime Minister' observed ' Ki hobe thu hazar unisher bhote, bo jha jabe aei unisher jotei ( What will be the result of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, will be fixed at the formation of the 'Grand Alliance' on this Jan 19 rally only).'
The BJP suffered a setback on Tuesday with the Apex Court refusing to interfere with the Bengal government's decision to not permit rath yatras in the state.
'We cannot say that the apprehension expressed by the state government are totally unfounded(relating to possible communal flare-ups), an Apex Court bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi maintained yesterday.
But the SC left it open for the BJP to submit a modified proposal for the rath yatras that 'answers' the apprehensions of the state government on maintenance of law and order.
'The Apex Court has denied permission for the yatras, but allowed meetings. We will focus on organising mega meetings,' said BJP National general secretary Kailash Vijayavargiya, the party's observer for Bengal.
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