Akhilesh Yadav likely to participate in Mamata Banerjee’s Martyrs Day Rally in Kolkata

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav will likely join West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Trinamool Congress's "Martyrs' Day cum Ma-Mati-Manush Divas" program in Kolkata on Sunday. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh confirmed Yadav's participation, alongside other prominent political figures, at the event. This rally marks TMC's first major political gathering since their decisive victories in the Lok Sabha elections, where they secured 29 out of 42 seats in Bengal, and the subsequent by-poll sweep, winning all 4 seats in the state.

Earlier today, the Trinamool Congress Supremo underscored the emotional significance of July 21st in Bengal's public memory, reflecting on the lives lost and the struggle against repression of the then CPIM regime. “Tomorrow, to this Martyrs' Day cum Ma- Mati- Manush Divas programme at Esplanade, I invite all of you in Bengal. Like every year, this year too, I trust, our congregation will get meaning through your eager participation in the collective homage to the martyrs,” posted Banerjee on the social media platform “X”.

Preparations for the rally are underway with elaborate arrangements, including the setup of multiple stages to accommodate party leaders, activists, and the families of the martyrs. Trinamool Congress anticipates a record turnout, underscoring the event's importance not only as a memorial but also as a rallying point for future political strategies in West Bengal.

The mega July 21 rally holds significance as it commemorates 'Martyrs Day,' an annual tribute to 13 individuals who lost their lives during a protest led by the West Bengal Youth Congress in 1993. Mamata Banerjee, then leading the youth wing, initiated this observance to honor those who were victims of police firing during a movement advocating for voter identity cards with photographs.​