AAP all set to host mega opposition rally today, Rahul likely to join

NEW DELHI: AAP is all set to launch its Lok Sabha election campaign through the mega opposition rally on Wednesday. Sources said that Congress' top leaders are being invited and Congress president Rahul Gandhi is likely to join the rally.

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the 'Remove Dictatorship Save Democracy' rally at Jantar Mantar will be attended by opposition party leaders including chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee along with AAP national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

"Main leaders on non-BJP parties will also participate in this rally. Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is coordinating with non-BJP parties for the participation of their leadership in this Save Democracy movement," Delhi cabinet minister and AAP Delhi chief Gopal Rai said.

A similar rally was organized by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata last month which saw over 20 opposition parties in attendance. The step was seen as a step towards the formation of a grand alliance of opposition parties ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Addressing at the event, CM Kejriwal had said the AAP would organize a similar event in Delhi.

"Modi government has crossed all limits through blatant misuse of central agencies to throttle political opponents and it has no respect for the rule of law. All those who want to save the country from this dictatorial duo should come forward to safeguard democracy," Rai said.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh said that Rahul Gandhi is one of the invitees of the 'Tanashahi Hatao, Loktantra Bachao' rally. "Sharad Pawar, Sharad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee, M K Stalin and Chandrababu Naidu are among other leaders invited for the rally," he said.

Sources said with just around two months left before the polls, the rally will serve to bring the opposition leaders together in firming up a Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance)to challenge the BJP and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners in the polls. There were talks of an alliance between the AAP and the Congress for the Lok Sabha polls, but the local leadership of the grand old party is believed to have been against it.

The AAP and the Congress have been bitter rivals in Delhi and Punjab.