The move comes as the party which had ruled West Bengal for over three decades is looking to boost its political fortunes ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, said the CPI(M) leaders. Addressing the rally, CPI(M) state general secretary Mohammed Salim, who was also once associated with the party’s youth wing, said, “We are cultivating flowers for the future. We have to save these flowers. We had shown our power during the panchayat elections. That was just a trailer, the Lok Sabha elections will be the final.”

A senior CPI(M) leader said, “After the Left Front’s defeat in 2011 Assembly elections, the organisation lost its hold over voters. However, since 2021, SFI and DYFI memberships have increased. People are now accepting youth leaders like Minakshi Mukherjee and Srijan Bhattacharya. You can see today (Sunday’s rally) also people were waiting to hear their speeches..”

Echoing the sentiment, DYFI leader Minakshi Mukherjee said, “Our fight for a comeback has begun. We know this is not a T20 match but a Test match.”Reacting to the CPI(M).s claims, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee said, “Some say ‘insaaf’ (justice), some ‘nyay’ (law) and others ‘sabka sath, sabka vikas’. All are doing what TMC has already done.”

BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya said, “It may be true that the CPI(M) drew a large crowd but people will only vote for BJP. Because in our state, only the BJP can defeat the TMC.”