Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to distribute freehold title deeds of plots, commonly known as pattas, to nearly 2,000 residents of various colonies of Bengal at an event at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Calcutta on Thursday.

The scale of the proposed show, multiple sources said, indicated the state government’s attempt to stress its commitment to its hands-off land policy.

Handing over pattas to the residents of various colonies has been on for the last few years, but it was always done at the block-level in low-key programmes.

“For the first time, the freehold title deeds are being distributed to the residents of colonies in a grand manner. This is significant because it appears that the government wants to send a message through the programme that the government is committed to its policy against forceful land acquisition," said a senior government official.

The attempt is significant at a time the Trinamul-led state government is pushing large projects like the proposed coal mine in Deocha-Pachami in Birbhum and the second airport of Calcutta, both of which involve land acquisition.

“The chief minister wants to send a message that her government will not change its stance even though she has to go for large industries for the sake of job creation... The message from the chief minister is important as she knows that assuring people that she will not take away land forcefully is important,” said another official.

Sending out this message is also important for Trinamul as the ruling party would face civic polls across the state within a couple of weeks and panchayat polls next year.

Moreover, the ruling party would face the all important Lok Sabha polls in 2024.

"All these elections are important for the Trinamul as the Trinamul chief wants to establish herself as the strongest anti-BJP leader in the country. At such a crucial juncture, the Trinamul would leave no stone unturned to keep its support base intact," said a source.

It was evident that the land is an issue close to Mamata’s heart when she recently said she would never allow the repeat of “Singur and Nandigram”.

According to sources, the ruling establishment is careful to ensure no wrong message is sent after some Left-backed political outfits have launched an agitation in Deocha-Pachami alleging residents were being forced to part with land for the proposed coal mine project.

A similar resistance to land acquisition was witnessed when the government identified Bhangar as a potential area for Calcutta’s second airport. As the resistance came from ruling party leaders of South 24 Parganas, the government dropped the idea of setting up the second airport in Bhangar.