Trinamul Congress supremo Ms Mamata Banerjee on Friday said that Saturday’s observation of 21 July will see a marked difference from earlier years as lakhs of people from far-flung rural areas will congregate on Saturday to mark the 25th anniversary of the “Martyrs’ Day”.

“It will be a meeting to be attended by lakhs of party workers from different districts of the state. I apologise to all, because as a result of the mammoth turn out, traffic movement is likely to suffer as route diversions will be invoked. My request to all the party workers and the people who will attend Saturday’s meeting, come safely. Avoid recklessness and be alert particularly while riding on motorcycles,” Banerjee said while talking to newspersons during her visit at the podium set up for the programme at Esplanade on Saturday evening.

Sources said that Miss Banerjee is expected to spell out her party’s strategy for next year’s Lok Sabha elections at the event.

Meanwhile, TMC sources said that three Congress leaders are likely to switch sides and join the Trinamul Congress on Saturday. They are Akhroor Zaman from Raghunathgunj, Mainul Haq from Farakka and Abu Taher Khan from Nowda.

While last minute preparations are on at the venue at Esplanade, it’s a déjà-vu of sorts for people from far-flung areas who have come in to make their presence felt at the venue on Saturday. They have come to listen to Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s rhetorical speeches on the occasion of 25th anniversary of the Martyrs Day to be observed on Saturday.

For the last two days their addresses are Milan Mela, Gitanjali Stadium, Kshudiram Anushilan Kendra and Uttirna as well as many guest houses spread across the city.

On the eve of the big day, a peep into these places uncovered a festive mood as people are taking strolls and thronging amusement parks and the Zoological Garden at Alipore as they seek to make it a big part of their Kolkata visit.

Swarup Biswas, who is in charge of Uttirna to supervise the arrangements said that about 8,000 people had been put up at Uttirna. They had come from Cooch Behar, Murshidabad.

“They have been given a meal of rice, dal, vegetables and egg curry.” The same menu was served to the party workers staying at Milan Mela and Geetanjali.