The Trinamul Congress has taken up the task of creating a database of those who will attend a rally of the party’s student wing in Calcutta on Monday in an apparent attempt to strengthen its ties with the young electorate ahead of the 2024 general election and next year’s panchayat polls.

“Block-level students’ leaders have been asked to prepare a database of all those coming to Calcutta on Monday with their names, addresses and phone numbers. The database will help us keep in touch with youths in remote areas. It is important as the party wants to strengthen its ties with the youths before the upcoming elections…,” said a senior leader of the Trinamul Chhatra Parishad (TMCP).

The TMCP will hold its 24th foundation day rally in Calcutta on Monday after a gap of two years. No such event had been held in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid-19. Trinamul is trying to bring in a large number of students from across the state on Monday. Trinamul chairperson Mamata Banerjee and national general-secretary Abhishek Banejree will address the gathering.August 28 is the foundation day of the TMCP and was observed across the state on Sunday.

Earlier, Mamata would address the students on the same day, but this year, she announced the rally would be organised a day later. Sources said during the Covid-19 outbreak, all colleges and universities had been closed for two years and the party could not reach out to students “properly”.

They explained that traditionally, students’ leaders would keep in touch with their fellow classmates and juniors through unit offices in colleges or universities by organising multiple protests and cultural programmes.“The party, under the leadership of Abhishek Banerjee, has a plan to focus on the youths. He wants to strengthen the party’s organisation at every layer starting from the students. He believes leaders of the future would come out of students and youths through proper grooming,” said a senior Trinamul leader.

During a recent reshuffle in Trinamul, multiple youth leaders had been elevated to the position of block presidents in several districts. Trinamul insiders said following certain recent developments like the arrests of former education minister Partha Chatterjee and Trinamul’s Birbhum chief Anubrata Mondal in cases of alleged corruption, there had been an impact on the youths and students regarding the image of the party.

“It is important to strengthen ties with youths before the panchayat polls next year and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections,” said a source.

All districts have been asked to bring the younger section, who are studying in colleges or universities, to Monday’s rally and both Mamata and Abhishek are likely to focus on the future action plan for the students’ wing of the party from there.All district leaders have been asked to cooperate with the students’ leaders to send their supporters to Calcutta in large numbers. District TMCP leaders have already sent the numbers of their supporters who will be attending the rally.

“It is after a gap of two years that a physical rally to mark the TMCP’s foundation day will be organised. This time, the highest number of students will attend the rally in Calcutta on Monday,” said Mohammmed Saddam Hossain, the East Burdwan district president of the TMCP.