Kolkata: The BJP’s proposed rally February 8 which was to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been called off with the party’s central leadership stating that it is not the right time to conduct such a programme. However, sources close to the party here said Tuesday that since the local leaders were apprehensive as to whether there would be enough people to attend the PM’s rally and hence they had requested a postponement of the programme.
There had been a massive gathering January 19 at the Brigade Parade Ground here when West Bengal Trinamool Congress supremo had organised her ‘BJP hatao’ (remove BJP) rally with leaders of 22 other parties. More than 10 lakh people had turned up to attend it.
However, with the local leadership failing to assure such a turnout during the PM’s visit, the party has cancelled the programme. State BJP chief, Dilip Ghose said Tuesday, “It is impossible to organise a rally in just 19 days and guarantee a massive turnout. So we have decided to postpone it to March.” The real fact, however, is that the BJP central leadership did not want to suffer a loss of face after the success of Mamata’s rally.
The other parties in West Bengal have been quick to pounce on the BJP after its decision to call off the programme. Trinamool Congress general secretary Partha Chatterjee said, “Actually, the BJP is scared after seeing the support which Mamata Banerjee enjoys in the state. They have no place in West Bengal.”
A similar opinion was echoed by CPIM’s Sujan Chakrabarty. “The decision to cancel the programme proves that the BJP does not have any organisational footing in West Bengal. BJP does not have a future in West Bengal,” stated Chakrabarty.
Agencies
