The Trinamool Congress (TMC) confirmed that its national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, will participate in the INDIA opposition bloc’s online meeting on Saturday evening to discuss India’s political landscape ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament, starting Monday. The decision comes despite TMC’s initial plan to skip the meeting due to preparations for its annual Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21 in West Bengal.

The Martyrs’ Day rally commemorates the 1993 killing of 13 Congress supporters by Kolkata Police during a march to the Writers’ Building, led by then-Youth Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. The TMC, formed by Mamata in 1998, continues to mark the day with a significant rally. Due to these commitments, the party will skip an all-party meeting scheduled for Sunday.

The INDIA bloc’s virtual meeting, the first major gathering of its constituents since the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, aims to strategize on key issues as the opposition prepares to challenge the ruling government in Parliament. TMC’s participation signals its intent to remain engaged in national opposition discussions despite prioritizing regional events.

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