Kolkata, March 3 (UNI) In a counter offensive to the Amit Shah’s aggressive campaign in South Bengal, Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee is set to hold a public meeting at the same Raidighi ground in South 24 Parganas where union Home Minister addressed a rally on Monday.
Shah had addressed a public meeting on Monday at a ground in Raidighi under the Mathurapur organisational district of South 24 Parganas, as part of the BJP’s ‘Parivartan Yatra’. During the rally, the home minister launched a sharp attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress, raising several allegations against the party and the state government.
In a direct political response, Abhishek Banerjee announced a rally at the very same ground on March 8.
Party sources said the decision was taken to counter the BJP’s narrative on the same turf and signal organisational strength ahead of the upcoming electoral battles.
The BJP had formally kicked off its ‘Parivartan Yatra’ on Sunday, with Shah’s Raidighi rally on Monday marking a key event in the campaign in South Bengal.
The Trinamool leadership views Abhishek’s meeting as a symbolic and strategic rebuttal to the BJP’s push in the region.
This will be the first such counter rally by Abhishek in recent times at the exact venue used by a senior BJP leader.
In the run-up to the 2021 Assembly elections, Abhishek had addressed several counter meetings across North and South Bengal in response to rallies by Shah and other BJP leaders.
A similar political face-off was seen earlier this year in Singur.
On January 18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally at ‘Tata’s field’ in Singur. Ten days later, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a public meeting in Singur, though at a different venue.
The Trinamool had made elaborate organisational arrangements for that rally, which saw a sizeable turnout.
While the Trinamool claimed the gathering reflected public support, opposition parties alleged that the crowd was mobilised through administrative pressure and was not spontaneous.
Notably, national flags were visible in large numbers at both Modi and Mamata Banerjee’s rallies in Singur.
With Abhishek Banerjee now set to take the stage at Raidighi, political temperatures in South 24 Parganas are expected to rise further in the days ahead.
UNI SAG IM