Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress Plans Major Rally in Kolkata
Trinamool Congress to Hold Rally Demanding CEC's Resignation
File image of Bengal's ex-CM Mamta Banerjee(Photo: IANS)
Kolkata, Oct 12: The faction of the Trinamool Congress led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is gearing up for a significant rally in Kolkata on Tuesday, where they will demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
While there has been no official confirmation, sources within Banerjee's faction suggest that she may lead the protest march herself. A faction leader mentioned, “Currently, we are indicating that her attendance at the Kolkata rally is uncertain as she is in New Delhi participating in protests there. However, if she returns tonight or by tomorrow morning, she will definitely lead the Kolkata rally.”
The Trinamool Congress has labeled the upcoming event as a 'massive protest march' in a flyer distributed on Monday. Nonetheless, there are concerns regarding whether the Kolkata Police will approve the rally.
The flyer outlines several objectives for the protest. The Banerjee-led faction has asserted that, in addition to the primary demand for the CEC's resignation, the rally will also target the Central government, accusing it of 'suppressing democracy'. Furthermore, the protest aims to address the detention of Mamata Banerjee in New Delhi and the 'oppression' faced by opposition groups, including young activists.
The pamphlet calls upon students, youth, women, and labor groups to participate. According to the flyer, the rally will commence from the Rajabazar area in North Kolkata and conclude at Park Circus in central Kolkata.
Notably, both the starting and ending locations of the planned rally are significant minority-populated areas in the city.
In contrast, the state BJP leadership has characterized the planned rally as a calculated attempt to disrupt the festive atmosphere in Kolkata just ahead of Durga Puja, which begins at the end of this week.
It remains uncertain whether the Kolkata Police will grant permission for the rally, considering potential traffic issues. Additionally, it is unclear what actions the Banerjee-led faction will take if the police refuse permission.