Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will address the people of West Bengal through Akashvani on the eve of Independence Day, reviving a tradition that has remained discontinued for the past 15 years. According to sources, the Chief Minister's message will be broadcast immediately after the President's address in accordance with established protocol, although the exact broadcast time has not yet been officially announced. The announcement marks the return of a long-standing practice in which the Chief Minister delivered a radio message to the people before Independence Day.
The tradition was regularly followed during the Left Front government, when former Chief Ministers Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee addressed the people of the state through radio before Independence Day. The practice was discontinued over the last 15 years and was not followed during the tenure of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Following the change in government, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that the tradition would be restored as part of this year's Independence Day observance.
The state government has stated that preserving Bengal's heritage and historical traditions remains one of its priorities, and the revival of the Chief Minister's radio address forms part of that initiative. At the same time, the government will continue the Independence Day parade on Red Road, a practice introduced during the previous administration. Administrative sources said Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will attend the Red Road parade this year, while Independence Day celebrations across the state will also include Tiranga Yatras, patriotic programmes, and cultural events.