Mamata Banerjee focussed on macro issues in the July 21 Martyrs’ Day address on Thursday, while her nephew Abhishek dwelt on micro issues like the Trinamul Congress’s priorities and stressed the do’s and don’ts for its rank and file.

In a 17-minute speech at the Esplanade venue, Abhishek did part of what had become his aunt’s regular job at the annual marquee event.

“Those who do not know what the significance of July 21 is are not qualified to be part of the Trinamul Congress…. July 21 stands for new hope, a sense of direction, people’s expectations. It stands for the fighting spirit, the unyielding mindset, the mindset to stay in the battlefield, shedding one’s own blood and sweat. It means Ma, Mati, Manush (mother, soil, people) and Mamata,” said a drenched Abhishek, who — in a symbolic gesture — decided to forego the umbrella in the torrential downpour, which ceased before Mamata took the dais.

It was apparent from the distribution of responsibilities that the Diamond Harbour MP and the Bengal chief minister had prior planning on how to split the talking points.“Today, we must renew our vows. To be in Trinamul, we have to prioritise the people, foremost. This is not the place to serve your own interests. I am saying this with full responsibility, yet again, out loud, that to be part of Trinamul, one must be dedicated to the party discipline, Mamata Banerjee’s thoughts, her ideology, movements and struggles,” said Abhishek.

“Those who think of this place as an avenue to serve their own interests, they should become contractors instead. For being in Trinamul, one has to be selfless, fearless, free of greed, and ensure people get their services,” he added, in a seeming bid to cleanse the organisation of some problems that have been a chronic headache for 30B Harish Chatterjee Street, through Trinamul’s stint in power since 2011.

The 34-year-old underscored a purification process the party supposedly underwent, by way of defections to the BJP. Although he did not take names, he was indicating the likes of Suvendu Adhikari, who is now the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

“Today’s Trinamul is a different Trinamul… without traitors, fraudsters, opportunists. This Trinamul is like pure iron, the hotter it is, the more beaten it is, the stronger it will be…. This party is our mother, and we are prepared go to any extent to protect our mother’s honour,” he said.“Those who thought a handful of defectors from Trinamul would be enough to defeat the party in Bengal, they saw how it won 211 seats in 2016 and 215 in 2021, solely on the basis of the people’s support and your (the party workers’) fight,” he added.

“Not just restricted to Bengal, Trinamul is now in Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Goa…. I was made the national general-secretary a year ago. Till Trinamul is firmly established across the country, I will not breathe easy, I assure you. In the Lok Sabha elections, Trinamul will win seats outside Bengal.”Abhishek warned against internal bickering.“Do not, please, debate who is bigger or smaller. Here, Number One is Mamata Banerjee, numbers two to 100 are workers. I am one, you are one,” he said.He went on to emphasise the party’s priority of ability over lobbying, in selection of panchayat election candidates across the state next year, and urged workers to work harder to spread Mamata’s ideology further, in order to relegate the BJP to political oblivion in Bengal.“Go to every booth, every block, every ward, spread Mamata Banerjee’s ideology…. A tireless campaign begins now, any problem let us know, you need me anywhere, I will go. I am in this, shoulder to shoulder, with you. We will not yield even an inch to the BJP, I promise you,” he said.Profusely thanking the party’s workers and supporters for the historic win in the Assembly election last year, he said the goal for them, going forward, was the national capital.“Today, the hope, the aspiration, the excitement, the determination I can see on your faces… this is not only the fight now to establish Trinamul-led panachayats (next year) but also to begin work towards establishing a democratic, constructive, pro-people government in Delhi,” said Abhishek.