Mission completed, Mamata stands tall

PUROHIT AND SANDIP CHOWDHURY, TT, 20 Jan 2019, Calcutta: Political mission accomplished during the day, the evening was for social dos.

Mamata Banerjee was busy socialising on Saturday evening after spending the entire day with the top Opposition leaders at the Brigade Parade Grounds and then hosting them at a tea session at Soujanya, a government guesthouse for VVIPs in Alipore, in the evening.

"She was in very good mood after the success of the rally and so she went about attending some social functions," said a source close to Mamata.

The Bengal chief minister indeed had reasons to be happy with the outcome of the "United India" rally, several Trinamul leaders said. Some of them recalled that when she had announced the anti-BJP rally during Trinamul's annual Martyrs' Day programme on July 21 last year, they were taken by surprise.

"Unlike today, the antiBJP mood was not as strong last July. We were not sure about whether this rally will draw any political dividends for us," said a senior Trinamul leader. On Saturday evening, the Trinamul camp was busy counting the gains the rally yielded for the party and Mamata.

"At times, people have mocked her attempt to play a larger role in national politics. Today, she proved that she could galvanise more than 20 Opposition parties from across the country. Isn't it enough to be one of the top leaders in national politics?" asked one Trinamul leader, referring to the line-up in the group picture that was clicked midway through the rally.

"And all of them congratulated Didi for holding this meeting," he added.

Over and above the attendance sheet on the dais, the Trinamul camp was celebrating a despatch from 10 Janpath, the residence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, which included a message and two messengers ­ leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, and senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

In the run up to Saturday's meeting, questions were tossed about the efficacy of an Opposition conclave in the absence of representation from the Grand Old Party. As the state unit of the Congress had expressed reservations about the participation of senior party leaders in Mamata's show, the absence of Sonia or Rahul had started drawing attention.

"Rahul sent a message yesterday and Sonia-ji's message was read out by the leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha... This proves her worth," said a Trinamul source.

In her message, Sonia wished the rally all success and said the upcoming Lok Sabha polls will be an election to "restore the nation's faith in democracy".

Echoing what Mamata often says about the Modi government, Sonia's letter described the Opposition rally as an "important attempt to galvanise leaders across the political spectrum to fight the arrogant and divisive Modi-rule".

The ability to galvanise Opposition leaders of all hues was in full display through the day as Mamata emceed the proceedings at the Brigade with the élan of a professional. There was a personal touch, too, in the manner she received each one of them and called out one leader after another requesting them to deliver their addresses.

She was seen talking to the speakers before announcing their names as next on the rostrum. In most cases, she was introducing the speakers with a personal touch. "Now there is a Bihari-babu," she said before inviting sidelined BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha. "And after him, there will be another Bihari Babu," she added, referring to the next speaker, Tejashwi Yadav.

The person touch was evident in the ordering of speakers, which Trinamul sources said, was her brainchild. The first two speakers were Modi's two prime tormentors in home state Gujarat -- Patidar leader Hardik Patel and Left-leaning Dalit mascot Jignesh Mevani.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi Congress The people's cry is they no more want the Modi government. Today 22 parties have gathered at Brigade, making a colourful rainbow Farooq Abdullah National Conference We can decide over who will become the Prime Minister later, but first we should make attempts to fight unitedly in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Shatrughan Sinha, BJP The nation's mood is for change. Change, change, change Mallikarjun Kharge Congress The goal is far away, the road is difficult. Even if there is no union of hearts, we should at leas join hands Akhilesh Yadav Samajwadi Party We have many leaders but people will choose from among us who will become Prime Minister.

Satish Chandra Misra BSP The BSP and the SP have already formed a pre-poll alliance and Mamata didi has started an initiative across the country to get unit- ed against the Modi government.

M.K. Stalin, DMK "If Modi come back the country will go back by 50 years. Even Modi and Amit Shah fears Mamata didi a lot H.D. Deve Gowda, JDS Social media is very powerful. BJP is trying to put doubts about our alliance in people's minds. We should ensure stability of the coalition government for five years and try to draw up a common manifesto H.D. Kumaraswamy, JDS Didi has always been the role model of India. Her simplicity attracts many of us. She has transformed Bengal in the last seven years Tejashwi Yadav, RJD Our diversity is our unity. This torn country now does not need a sword but a needle.

 Soren, JMM We have to uproot the BJP from the country and our state (Jhark- hand). 2019 is a do-or-die battle.

Gegong Apang, Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Our high command is the people of the country. Democracy in India is going through its worst time since independence.

Pu Lalduhawma Zoram Nationalist Party She (Mamata Banerjee) has transformed Bengal in such a short time, (she) will be able to transform India too.

Yashwant Sinha Former Union finance minister They want us to make Modi our main issue but my opinion is that we should make the people's cause our main issue.

Arvind Kejriwal AamAadmi Party The 2019 polls is not to elect a new PM only, but to remove Modi and Amit Shah from power Jayant Chaudhary, 

RLD This is not a rally, this is a grand rally. Mama- ta didi… is a strong fighter from her Oppo- sition days. 

Arun Shourie Former Union minister We should have only one lakshya (goal) -- the Lok Sabha polls. Become Arjun, give Modi one-to-one fight to ensure his defeat.

N. Chandrababu Naidu Telugu Desam Party We want to unite India … Mamata Banerjee has taken an extraordinary initiative…. We too will hold such a rally in Amravati Hardik Patel Gujarat Patidar leader Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had fought the British, we will fight the thieves Sharad Yadav Loktantrik Janata Dal We will sink the Modi government in the Ganga in 2019 Sharad Pawar Nationalist Congress Party We have all come here not to get any post but to ensure your safety and that of our country Jignesh Mevani Dalit leader and Gujarat MLA The country is going through an unprecedented crisis with the exploitation of the poor, minorities and Dalits.