Former Arunachal CM Gegong Apang to participate in TMC rally

Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang, who has resigned from the BJP, is likely to participate in the January 19 rally of the Trinamool Congress.

"Gegong Apang will participate in Jan 19 rally. He has confirmed it," a TMC source said Wednesday.

However, TMC leaders declined to comment on speculations that Apang is likely to join TMC on that day.

Apang, who was chief minister of the Northeastern state for over 22 years, sent a two-page resignation letter to BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday.

"I am disappointed to see that the present BJP is no longer following the principles of Raj Dharam but has turned into a platform to seek power, serves a leadership which hates decentralization of democratic decision," he wrote in the letter.

In a show of strength ahead of the national polls, TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called for a mega opposition rally in Kolkata on January 19, which is likely to see participation of lakhs of her supporters.

Leaders of all major opposition parties have been invited to the rally to be held at the Brigade Parade ground in the heart of the city.