Former Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya not to attend Brigade rally due to ill health

    Kolkata, Feb 28 (PTI) Former West Bengal chief
minister and CPI(M) veteran Buddhadeb Bhattacharya will not be
attending the party's mega rally at the Brigade Parade Ground
on Sunday owing to ill health, sources said.
    The Left-Congress-ISF alliance will kick-off its
campaign for the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal at
the Brigade Parade Ground, an iconic political platform in the
city with a capacity to accomodate lakhs of people.
    Bhattacharya, 76, expressed anguish at not being able
to attend the public meeting.
    "My comrades are fighting on the ground, and I have to
stay back at home as per the advice of doctors. It is
unthinkable that such a massive rally is being held at the
Brigade Parade Ground, and I cannot attend it. I wish the
rally a grand success," he said in a statement.
    According to party sources, Bhattacharya is likely to
send a written message for the rally.
    During the last such event at the same venue in 2019,
Bhattacharya stayed for a brief period but could not address
the gathering due to poor health.
    CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, state
Congress president Adhir Chowdhury and ISF's Abbas Siddiqui
will be the main speakers at Sundays rally.
    Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and RJD
leader Tejashwi Yadav will also be present, besides state
leaders of the Congress and the Left parties.
    The RJD is a part of the Left-Congress alliance in
West Bengal.
    For the first time, once-bitter rivals Congress and
the Left Front would be holding a joint rally in Kolkata. PTI
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)