'Development' is Mamata's focus at Martyr's Day rally

After putting her seal of approval on the Presidential candidate nominated by the UPA Government—Pranab Mukherjee—a relaxed Mamata Banerjee is all set to showcase her government's achievements on the Trinamool Congress Martyr's Day on 21July.

The Martyr's Day rally will be held this year at the busy Chowringhee-Central avenue crossing and not at the Brigade Parade grounds where the rains had marred the celebrations a tad last year. Earlier when the TMC was in the Opposition and the Left Front at the helm of affairs, the tone and pitch of the Martyr's Day rally was 'agitational'. 'This year, Mamata is expected to talk about development of people of Bengal. Strides made by the government in sectors like education and health will be touched upon while addressing the crowds', said senior TMC leader and MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay.

'The chief minister is expected to talk about new initiatives in the educational sector like setting up of new  universities and 47 super speciality hospitals to spruce up the health sector. There is a lot of hope about progress at the moment,' added Chattopadhyay. 

Banerjee is also expected to touch upon her relationship with the UPA at the Centre and the Pradesh Congress at the state level.

At least 10 lakh people are expected to attend the rally and the two hour programme put up by the TMC in memory of those who were killed and thousands injured in the 21 July police firing on a  protest rally put by the Youth Congress against the Left Front government in 1993. This is also the first time that the recently elected GTA [Gorkhaland Territorial Agreement] members from the hills will attend the Martyr's Day rally in Kolkata. All TMC MLAs, MPs and panchayat members are also going to attend the rally. 

Party workers will also pour in from different parts of Bengal to participate in this annual event. There will be no cultural programme this year though, said TMC sources.