Name: Asadullah Khan

Age: 22

Occupation: Student

Why at the rally: “We are here to listen to Mamata Banerjee. We also heard that All India Trinamul Yuva is going to be announced here and we are here as representatives of the youth. We have already registered for Yuva. This party is about change and the youth can be the biggest vehicle for that change. We cannot wait to see what the plans for Yuva really are,” said Khan.

Name: Tilak Das

Age: 23

Occupation: Student

Satabdi Roy, actress and Trinamul MP The first person I saw after my performance on stage was Didi and so I went straight to her and hugged her. She had told me to dance to Rabindrasangeet and Dhitang dhitang boley. I also included the Ma Mati Manush theme for the crowd to relate to. As an actress, I am used to seeing 10-20,000 people when I perform on stage. But at the Brigade it was a great feeling performing in front of lakhs of people! I was unsure how people would react to an MP dancing on stage, but they loved it, and so did Didi. She told me ‘Bhalo hoyechhe’. I was thrilled!

June, actress and a jury member in the Mahila Commission I had never been to Brigade before and when I was invited to attend the rally, I wanted to feel the pulse of the place and, of course, to support Didi. I have never seen such a huge crowd! Overall, it was a great experience. I was a little worried about the rain but, I guess, even the rain gods can’t stop Didi!

Why at the rally: “I am an active Trinamul Chhatra Parishad member and I know that this rain may have fazed a lot of young people but it was not enough to keep me away. Mamata Banerjee has already yielded results and she has just completed two months in office. I am here with my friends from college to show my support. I am excited about the new wing. I am looking forward to joining it once I am out of college. After all, it is about new beginnings and just like you need seniors in a party, you need young blood to give it new direction,” said Das.

Name: Ranjita Das

Age: 23

Occupation: NGO worker

Why at the rally: She claimed she had vowed before the Assembly elections to walk barefoot from her Moulali home to the martyrs’ day rally venue if Mamata Banerjee became chief minister. On Thursday, she fulfilled her vow, accompanied by her mother and sister. “I have been attending Mamata Banerjee’s July 21 gatherings for the past four years. When she walked from Raj Bhavan to Writers’ Buildings after taking oath, I was in the crowd,” said Ranjita.

Name: Shankar Gayen

Age: 57

Occupation: Farmer

Why at the rally: A former CPM supporter, Gayen switched allegiance to Trinamul after Aila, which killed his seven-year-old son and damaged his house and fields. “The party did nothing for us after the disaster. We hope our new chief minister will rebuild the Sunderbans and make lives a little better for the next generation,” he said.

Name: Manish Kumar Prasad

Age: 30

Occupation: Software engineer

Why at the rally: Prasad took a casual leave from the Rajarhat tech firm where he works to attend the rally. “I had planned to reach the venue by 10am and take up a front-row seat. But the rain spoiled my plan. I reached the ground at noon but could not wade through the slush. So I stood near Birla Planetarium and heard Mamata Banerjee’s speech on the loudspeaker. I was very happy to be a part of the occasion,” said Prasad.

Name: Sushmita Brahma

Age: 21

Occupation: Relationship manager at a telecom company

Why at the rally: The executive, who is also pursuing her graduation from a private institute, wishes to join Mamata’s youth brigade and get actively involved in politics. Thursday’s was the first political rally she attended. “I wanted to hear Mamata Banerjee’s plans for the youth and join the Yuva wing of the party on the day of its launch. I could not register because of the huge crowd and the rain. I will register online once I am home. I wish to attend Yuva’s programmes regularly,” said Sushmita.

Name: Dibyendu Goutam

Age: 42

Occupation: Associate professor, surgery department, Calcutta Medical College and Hospital

Why at the rally: A first-timer at a political rally, Goutam said he was an ardent fan of Mamata Banerjee and her speeches. “I completed two surgeries and came to the rally with four of my colleagues. I was never politically active but I am extremely impressed by the way Mamata Banerjee has been working over the past two months. I had seen her on TV and didn’t want to miss the opportunity of watching her live at such a historic occasion,” said Goutam.