United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said at TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's mega rally in Kolkata

The mega Trinamool Congress (TMC) rally in Kolkata’s historic Brigade Parade Ground, popularly known as Maidan, has promised a show of Opposition Strength ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 on Saturday, January 19. Earlier, TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee termed the rally the 'death knell' for the ruling BJP in the General Election due by May. Political heavyweights like former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, socialist leader Sharad Yadav, JMM chief Hemant Soren and former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang have reached Kolkata for the rally. Chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, HD Kumaraswamy, N Chandrababu Naidu, former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's MK Stalin, and dissident BJP lawmaker Shatrughan Sinha were also present in the rally. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who skipped the rally, extended his support to Banerjee on Friday. Here is who said what at TMC's mega Opposition rally in the West Bengal capital.

United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said

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The mega Trinamool Congress (TMC) rally in Kolkata’s historic Brigade Parade Ground, popularly known as Maidan, has promised a show of Opposition Strength ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 on Saturday, January 19. Earlier, TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee termed the rally the "death knell" for the ruling BJP in the General Election due by May. Political heavyweights like former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, socialist leader Sharad Yadav, JMM chief Hemant Soren and former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang have reached Kolkata for the rally. Chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, H D Kumaraswamy, N Chandrababu Naidu, former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's MK Stalin, and dissident BJP lawmaker Shatrughan Sinha were also present in the rally. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who skipped the rally, extended his support to Banerjee on Friday. Here is who said what at TMC's mega Opposition rally in West Bengal capital.

United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said

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Addressing the United India rally in the heart of West Bengal capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "Today is a historic day for the country. The Shah-Modi duo have destroyed the country".

United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said

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"What will start in Bengal, will be seen across the country," says Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to show the Opposition Strength in the run-up of 2019 Lok Sabha elections later in the year.

United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said

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DMK president MK Stalin who is also a part of the "grand alliance" (Mahagathbandhan), said, "The upcoming general elections in May will be the second freedom struggle of the country".

United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said

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While addressing the mega Opposition rally in Kolkata, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah said, "The BJP is dividing people on the basis of religion. We must all come together to defeat the divisive forces".

United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said

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Karnaraka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy who last year formed government in the southern state in coalition with the Congress also addresses the United India Rally, saying "Regional have the strong instinct to connect with the people and protect the interests of their States".

United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said

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Former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha said, "This is not about removing one man from power. We have come together to defeat an ideology".

United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said

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Criticising the existing government, Gujarat MLA Jighnesh Mevani said, "The country is passing through an unprecedented crisis. All parties have to come together to defeat BJP and RSS".

United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said

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"The Centre is victimising leaders of Opposition parties using all machinery," former prime minister HD Deve Gowda said.

United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said

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Since UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi gave a miss to the Opposition rally, senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge conveyed their message to the Brigade. Reading a message from Sonia Gandhi, Kharge said, "The upcoming general elections will be on the faith of restoring democracy in our country".

United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said

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Congratulating Mamata Banerjee for organising the rally, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said, "Your show of unity today is giving us hope".

United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said

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Addressing the Opposition rally in Kolkata, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu gave a clarion call to save our democracy. "We have only one mission - Save India. Save democracy," Naidu was quoted as saying.

United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said

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Actor-turned-politician Shatrugan Sinha said that he have never seen a more dynamic, brilliant and powerful rally than this. "Mood of the nation is Parivartan. Parivartan. Parivartan. People want a new leadership," Sinha was at as saying at TMC's mega Opposition rally.

United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said

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Speaking at the United India Rally, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vowed to work together to bring a new dawn for the country. The TMC chief further took a dig at the BJP, saying "The credibility of CBI has been destroyed". Seeking to oust the Saffron Party in 2019, she further said, "Enough of Acche Din, now throw the BJP out".

United India Rally: From Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal, here’s what top Opposition leaders said

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"We are not afraid of intimidation tactics. We have to save the country," RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said.