Mamata Banerjee issued a clarion call to oust the BJP in 2024, saying that Bengal would show the way by creating jobs and developing infrastructure to promote development of the state in a Martyrs' Day speech laced with characteristic flourish and dollops of sarcasm aimed at the government at the Centre.

"GST if a patient is in hospital. GST on our favourite muri," she said while holding a plate of puffed rice that she asked from a party worker near the dais. This was followed by a cane model of an LPG gas cylinder that made its way on to the dias from the gathering, again to symbolise unprecedented price rise that is plaguing the common man.

"The BJP takes away jobs, while we want to create jobs," she said amid thunderous applause. "The BJP is plotting to topple governments. That's what they do," she said at the Trinamul Congress's annual Martyrs Day rally in the presence of lakhs of supporters, including party MPs, MLAs, councillors and panchayat leaders.

Mamata took the stage when it had just stopped raining. "The sun is out again," she said. 'It is telling us to march on," she added.

Here is a selection of her quotes, paraphrased by The Telegraph Online:

• Let there be one ideal party in India. Let that be Trinamul: Mamata
• Bengal is not being paid for 100 days of work (MGNREGS). Unless Centre pays us, we will organise a gherao in Delhi: Mamata
• We want to give jobs, but the BJP wants to take away jobs: MamataIf Trinamul stays, Kanyashree stays, Shasthya Sathi stays, pension stays: Mamata
• BJP is plotting to topple all governments. That is what they do: Mamata
• Unemployment down by 40 per cent in Bengal: Mamata
• Rivals thought this July 21 rally will be washed out. They were wrong: Mamata
• The sun is shining again, telling us to march on: Mamata
• Heavy rain could not disrupt this gathering, but the BJP will be washed away in 2024, says Mamata Banerjee
• Trinamul supremo Mamata Banerjee arrives at venue

Earlier in the day on Thursday, amid blinding rain, several speakers addressed the gathering of lakhs and lakhs of people from across Bengal who had congregated at Esplanade, the city's downtown area, for the mega Martyr's Day rally.

The annual rally was held after a gap of two years due to the pandemic and enthusiastic party supporters started arriving at the venue as early as 4 am in trains, buses and private vehicles. Many of them arrived in the city two days ago for the rally and have been housed in camps. The highlight of the rally was the address by the feisty TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.

Said Mantu Haldar from Bamangachi near Barasat, "I have come here to hear `Didi'. I came by bus with many others who work for the party or support it early this morning."

TMC workers were seen arriving at the two terminal railway stations of Howrah and Sealdah in overcrowded local trains holding party flags, cutouts of Banerjee playing the traditional 'dhaaks' and even blowing conches.

At least 4,500 police personnel were deployed across the city to maintain law and order in the city during the day.

This year's rally was also special as it is the first after the party's decisive victory in the state election in 2021 and TMC's return to power for the third consecutive term.

Banerjee had said on Wednesday said that the Martyrs' Day rally will be against the Centre's "authoritarian rule".

TMC observes Martyrs' Day on July 21 every year to commemorate the killing of 13 people in police firing on a Youth Congress rally against the then Left Front government in 1993 when Banerjee was the YC state president.

She continues to observe the day even after forming the Trinamool Congress in 1998 and coming to power in West Bengal in 2011.