KOLKATA: PM Narendra Modi’s first pre-poll Brigade rally on Sunday may be a star-studded affair, with several former Trinamool dissidents — who have complained of “feeling stifled” in their old party or have not got poll tickets — likely to be in attendance.
Actor Mithun Chakraborty would join the rally, his son, Namashi Chakraborty, confirmed. Bolly superstar Akshay Kumar may also address the rally.
But the more substantial boost to BJP came from a string of defections on Saturday, a day after the Trinamool Congress announced its entire list of Bengal poll candidates.
Former railway minister and former Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Trivedi formally joined the BJP in Delhi. “I have joined the people’s family,” he said in BJP president JP Nadda’s presence, promising to be part of Modi’s Brigade show.
Many of the 28 Trinamool MLAs, who have not got the party ticket this time, may also be seen at the rally. Assembly deputy speaker and outgoing Satgachhia MLA Sonali Guha and Trinamool veteran and outgoing Shibpur MLA Jotu Lahiri have already spoken of leaving the Trinamool.
Bengal BJP leaders hinted at some more “surprises”. The party has not yet given up on BCCI boss Sourav Ganguly joining the Brigade show though the former Team India captain told a private channel a few days ago that he was a sportsman and would not take political questions. TOI messaged Ganguly but there was no response.
BJP leaders said they were “expecting another stalwart from the cultural field”, fuelling a buzz on Tollywood numero uno Prosenjit Chatterjee. The actor, however, protested vehemently: “I don’t know why such a rumour is being spread. Honestly, nobody from the BJP has even approached me to be at the Brigade rally. I am in Pune right now, shooting for an advertorial, and will be here till March 21-22. I don’t know why my name is being dragged into all this.”
Chatterjee has stayed away from political programmes. He attended the 125th birth anniversary celebration of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Victoria Memorial, in which Modi was the chief guest, and unveiled a book written by Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation director Anirban Ganguly. But he later clarified that he was just being a good host. “There is no political inclination nor agenda. I stay focused on what I know best, acting,” the actor had tweeted.
The only confirmation came from Mithun’s camp. Advocate Biman Sarkar, the star’s lawyer, said Mithun would be taking the BJP flag at the Brigade meeting. Mithun was a Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP till quitting in 2015.
BJP supporters from across the districts have started reaching the city. Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh and state minder Kailash Vijayvargiya went to the venue on Saturday to oversee arrangements. Modi, a few stars and senior Bengal BJP office-bearers will be on the main dais and district office-bearers, MPs and MLAs will be seated on nearby hangars. BJP workers have reached out to households with written invitations for the rally. The party has also appealed to Hindu organisations to make up the numbers.
“We know there will be obstacles and the state government might try to put up hurdles. We are instructing office-bearers to make alternative arrangements if that happens,” water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said. “There is an enthusiasm about the BJP in Bengal and I will not be surprised if more politicians join us,” he added.