'Sincere gratitude to Maa-Mati-Manush': Mamata Banerjee on Trinamool Congress' foundation day

Banerjee, who gave the slogan of "Ma-Mati-Manush" more than a decade ago, tweeted, "As Trinamool turns 23 today, I look back at the journey we began on January 1st, 1998.

"Our years have been of immense struggle, but throughout this time we have continued to achieve our objective of being committed to the cause of only the people."

"On TMC Foundation Day, I extend my sincere gratitude to our Maa-Mati-Manush and all our workers who continue to fight with us in making Bengal better and stronger each day. The Trinamool family will carry on with this resolve for times to come."

On the occasion of the founders' day, senior Trinamool leaders Subrata Bakshi and Derek O'Brien and others paid tribute to their late colleagues, who were martyred during political movements, at the Trinamool Bhavan here.

Banerjee, who had started her politics as a Congress leader, broke up with the country's oldest outfit and formed the Trinamool on Jan 1, 1998 in West Bengal.

The Trinamool, which was once an arch-rival of the Left, assumed power dethroning the CPI-M-led government in 2011.

In the 2021 assembly elections, however, Banerjee's party is pitted against the rising Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is aiming to wrest power for the first time in once-a-Communist citadel.