Trinamool Congress takes out multiple rallies across Bengal in run up to Martyrs' Day meeting

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress supporters organised a procession in South Kolkata on Wednesday in the run up to the Martyrs' Day rally on July 21. The rally was led by state Power minister and MLA from Rashbehari Assembly constituency Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay.

Rallies were also taken out in all the Assembly constituencies in the state and were led by respected MLAs.

The theme of the Martyrs' Day rally this year will be return of ballot papers replacing Electronic Voting Machines (EVM). The main speaker at the rally will be Trinamool Congress supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

It may be mentioned that during the campaign for the general elections, Banerjee had repeatedly said that attempts would be made by the BJP to manipulate the EVMs as BJP national president Amit Shah had said that the party would get 300 seats in Lok Sabha.

After the results of the Lok Sabha election, many Opposition parties had alleged about the tampering of the EVMs. They said as the EVMs can be manipulated, many Western countries have brought back the old system of holding elections using ballot papers.

But none of the Opposition parties have taken up the issue seriously. Banerjee has since proposed to launch a nationwide movement demanding restoration of ballot papers replacing the EVMs.

The Martyrs' Day rally is also important as the party workers and leaders are expecting some instructions by the party supremo as the party is going to face the municipal polls in 2020 and the Assembly elections in 2021.

Though Trinamool Congress has increased its poll percentage by 4%, there is fear among a section of party workers about the party's poll prospect in 2021. Party leaders feel that Banerjee will cheer up the rank and file of the party.

Rallies will come from all over the state and converge at Esplanade, where the meeting will be held. Party leaders expect participation of a huge number of supporters in the July 21 meeting.