In order to demonstrate the consolidation of the Congress-Trinamul Congress alliance to the people of West Bengal, Ms Mamata Banerjee has invited Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee for the Martyrs’ Day rally. The Trinamul Congress organises this annual event on July 21 at Esplanade to commemorate the killing of 13 Youth
Congress workers in police firing in 1993. If Mr Mukherjee accepts the invitation, this will be the first time that the two tall leaders will be seen together at the Martyrs’ Day rally in 17 years.
While the Trinamul Congress was a constituent of the BJP-led NDA government from 1998 to 2004, a number of NDA leaders including George Fernandes had addressed Martyrs’ Day rally. Last year, it was the AICC general secretary and incharge of Bengal affairs K. Keshav Rao who had attended it. “The presence of Pranab da will definitely send a positive message to the workers of two parties and the people of the state,” Trinamul Congress leader Partha Chatterjee said.
On Friday, Mr Mukherjee attended a programme organised by the railway and shipping ministries and thereafter he drove to the Raj Bhavan with Ms Banerjee in the same car to discuss the law and order situation in the state with governor M.K. Narayanan. Their visit sparked off speculation of early Assembly polls in the state.