TMC leaders brave rain, struggle to keep pace with Didi
The Statesman | 17 July 2025
After a long time Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee and party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee took part in a rally to protest against the attack on the Bengali-speaking migrant workers in BJP-ruled states.
Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee walked together, putting to rest speculation that they have differences.
The procession witnessed the presence of party MPs, ministers, leaders and the other rank and file. Party MPs Mala Roy, Dola Sen and Sayoni Ghosh were there. There were ministers, including Chandrima Bhattacharya, Dr Shashi Panja, Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas and Indranil Sen. Udayan Guha from Cooch Behar too attended the rally.
Miss Banerjee, a septuagenarian, walked around two kilometres from College Square to Dorina Crossing via College Street, Nirmal Chandra Sarani and Lenin Sarani to reach the destination.
The route of the rally was a sea of people. It was people everywhere, on roof tops, pavements and in the bylanes. The presence of women was remarkable. The rally has once again proved people’s faith in Trinamul Congress.
The rally and the rain started together and despite heavy downpour, none of the leaders or workers left their ground. They got drenched but completed the rally, shouting slogans criticising the partisan attitude of the BJP-led Centre.
As the rally proceeded, more and more people joined it, converting the rally route into a sea of people. Trinamul Congress had decided that apart from the city, party workers from Salt Lake, Dum Dum and Bhangar in South 24-Parganas will take part in the rally.
Unprecedented police arrangement was made to maintain peace and provide security to the VIPs. All senior officers of city police were on duty. Plainclothes policemen were deployed on the pavement while a few were posted on roof tops.
Miss Banerjee followed her usual walking speed. As she does her regular leg exercises, walking for 2 km was not a big deal. Many leaders found it difficult to keep pace with her. The rally covered the distance in one-and-a-half hours.
As the leaders and workers got drenched, Miss Banerjee advised them to take a shower in warm water after they go back home and have anti-allergic medicines along with a cup of hot tea or coffee.