West Bengal holds first-ever Tiranga Yatra under new CM Shuvendu Adhikari
Synopsis
For 15 years, West Bengal under the TMC sat out the Centre's Har Ghar Tiranga programme. That changed on 7 August, when CM Shuvendu Adhikari led the state's first-ever Tiranga Yatra through South Kolkata — and revived the Chief Minister's All India Radio address, a tradition Mamata Banerjee had abandoned for over a decade.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal held its first-ever Tiranga Yatra on 7 August 2026 , under Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari .
The rally ran from Survey Building, Alipore to Hazra Crossing in South Kolkata, with cabinet ministers Tapas Roy and Deepak Barman participating.
A follow-up rally is planned for 10 August at Birla Planetarium , targeting a turnout of 50,000 people .
The previous TMC government (2011–2026) under Mamata Banerjee never organised the Har Ghar Tiranga event in the state.
CM Adhikari will also revive the Chief Minister's All India Radio address on the eve of Independence Day, 15 August — a tradition skipped for 15 years under the TMC.
West Bengal organised its first-ever Tiranga Yatra on Friday, 7 August, marking a significant break from the previous 15 years of Trinamool Congress (TMC) governance, during which the state never participated in the Centre's Har Ghar Tiranga programme. Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari led the inaugural rally through South Kolkata, signalling a deliberate shift in the new government's approach to national celebrations.
How the Rally Unfolded
The procession began at the Survey Building, Alipore, and concluded at Hazra Crossing, both located in South Kolkata. Participants carried the National Tricolour throughout the march. Senior cabinet members — including State Industries and Commerce Minister Tapas Roy and State School Education Minister Deepak Barman — walked alongside the Chief Minister.
Speaking at the close of the rally, Adhikari said he was overwhelmed by the 'massive enthusiasm of innumerable participants.' He announced a follow-up rally for 10 August, starting from Birla Planetarium in central Kolkata, with an expected turnout of 50,000 people.
The Political Context
The Har Ghar Tiranga initiative was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few years ago as part of August Independence Month observances. While most states adopted it, West Bengal under former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the TMC consistently declined to organise the event during their 15-year rule from 2011 to 2026. The new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government, formed after the West Bengal assembly polls earlier this year, has moved quickly to align the state with the national programme.
Adhikari framed the event in explicitly nationalist terms. 'We will organise a similar rally on August 10 starting from Birla Planetarium in central Kolkata. We expect a turnout of 50,000 people on that day,' he said. He added that the rally was organised 'to awaken nationalism and patriotism among the people.'
Revival of a Decades-Old Tradition
Beyond the Tiranga Yatra, the new government has also revived the Chief Minister's All India Radio address on the eve of Independence Day, 15 August. This tradition dates back decades — even through the 34-year Left Front regime (1977–2011), no Chief Minister missed the address. However, Mamata Banerjee reportedly skipped it every year during her tenure from 2011 to 2026. Adhikari is set to deliver the address this year, restoring what officials describe as an integral part of Bengal's Independence Day observances.
What Comes Next
The 10 August rally at Birla Planetarium will be closely watched as a measure of public participation under the new dispensation. With Independence Day on 15 August approaching, the state government's visible embrace of national programmes signals a broader political and cultural repositioning of West Bengal in the national mainstream.
Point of View
000-target rally on 10 August — will be the first real test of the new government's grassroots reach.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tiranga Yatra and why was it held in West Bengal for the first time?
The Tiranga Yatra is a rally in which participants carry the National Tricolour, held as part of the Centre's Har Ghar Tiranga programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. West Bengal held it for the first time on 7 August 2026 because the previous TMC government, in power from 2011 to 2026, had never organised the event in the state.
Who led the Tiranga Yatra in Kolkata on 7 August?
Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari led the rally, which ran from the Survey Building at Alipore to Hazra Crossing in South Kolkata. Cabinet ministers Tapas Roy and Deepak Barman were among the other participants.
Is another Tiranga Yatra rally planned in West Bengal?
Yes. Chief Minister Adhikari announced a follow-up rally on 10 August starting from Birla Planetarium in central Kolkata, with an expected turnout of 50,000 people.
What is the significance of the All India Radio address being revived?
The Chief Minister's All India Radio address on the eve of Independence Day was a longstanding Bengal tradition upheld even through the 34-year Left Front rule. Former CM Mamata Banerjee skipped it every year during the TMC's 15-year tenure; Adhikari's decision to revive it on 15 August is seen as a symbolic restoration of that tradition.
Why did West Bengal not participate in Har Ghar Tiranga previously?
During the Trinamool Congress government's tenure from 2011 to 2026, the state administration chose not to organise the Har Ghar Tiranga events. After the change of government following the West Bengal assembly polls earlier in 2026, the new administration decided to participate in the national programme.
