January 19, 2019
All roads lead to Brigade today
The day is finally here. The historic ‘United India Rally’ will take place at the Brigade Parade Grounds today, where several national leaders including a former prime minister and several union ministers, sitting chief ministers and former chief ministers will be present.
Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee had announced from the stage of Ekushe July Shahid Dibas in 2018 that a mega Opposition rally will be held at Brigade Parade Grounds. This is the culmination of her vision.
She has said time and again that the January 19 rally will pave the way for 2019 Parliamentary elections as Opposition leaders will come together to chalk out the roadmap to dethrone the BJP-led government at Centre.
There will be five stages. The main stage, which will come up in front of the fountain opposite the Victoria Memorial Hall, will accommodate senior leaders including Mamata Banerjee.
On the right of the main stage there will be two stages, one for the MPs and State Government ministers and the other for the district presidents and functionaries.
On the left of the main dais too will be two stages – one for those from the cultural world and another on which cultural programmes will be held.
The party workers who started coming to Kolkata from the districts from Thursday, January 17 are being accommodated at Gitanjali Stadium, Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, Sector V and Central Park, Salt Lake and in dharamshalas in central and north Kolkata. From these places, the supporters will start marching towards ground zero at 6am.
A thousand-strong group of folk artistes from Jhargram will also take part in the rally. There will be around 100 camps spread across the city to assist the attendees. More than 2,000 party supporters will be engaged as volunteers.
Photo: Brigade Rally 2014
