West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee is likely to join party leader Abhishek Banerjee at the TMC's ongoing mass outreach programme in Malda district on Thursday, reported PTI. The two-month-long outreach programme 'Trinamool-e Nabajowar' (new wave in Trinamool) was launched last month ahead of the panchayat polls.
Banerjee is likely to leave for Malda later on Wednesday and will address a gathering after 4 pm.
"Mamata Banerjee will be present at tomorrow's programme in Malda, along with national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. Her programme is tentatively scheduled from 4 PM onwards," a communication from the TMC media cell said.
TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek is considered the party's second more important leader after the CM.
Abhishek will travel around 3,500 km during the two-month outreach campaign and hold more than 250 rallies across the state to garner support for the government ahead of reflections.
The TMC MP had earlier said that the outreach campaign aims to reach out to the people and empower them to decide on party candidates for the imminent panchayat polls through secret ballots, reported PTI.
Banerjee said that during the selection process, people can give feedback through a secret ballot or online.
“During the referendum, the party members and influencers from each gram panchayat will participate in a secret ballot to recommend the right candidates for the following positions: Zilla Parishad members, Panchayat Samiti members and Gram Panchayat members. In addition, an online referendum will also be made available to the general public at www.tnjofficial.com from April 25 to enable them to participate and voice their opinions,” a party press release read.
The yatra began from Dinhata in Cooch Behar and will conclude at Kakdwip, South 24 Parganas district.