Kolkata, June 28: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has formally requested permission from the Kolkata Police to hold its annual Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21 at Esplanade, a central location in Kolkata.
The party aims to commemorate Martyrs’ Day in front of Victoria House, just as it has done for the past two decades.
Following a recent change in government in the state, the TMC has experienced internal divisions. Many of its legislators in the state assembly have allied with opposition leader Ritabrata Banerjee, declaring themselves the “real” Trinamool. Several loyalists of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have also joined the rebel faction, forming their own executive committee.
Currently, only a handful of leaders remain loyal to Mamata Banerjee. Amid this turmoil, she convened a meeting in Kolkata earlier this month to discuss the upcoming rally. She encouraged party workers to attend, emphasizing that even with a small turnout, they would gather at Esplanade. Following this, the party sent a letter to the Kolkata Police requesting permission for the event. This year, the rally is themed “We Are Not Corrupt.”
In a recent meeting with party workers, Mamata Banerjee highlighted that the TMC has been organizing events at Esplanade in memory of martyrs for many years. She stated that if permission is granted, the event will proceed as planned. She reassured her supporters that even if only five workers attend, they will still hold the gathering.
Mamata also urged those who have left the party to reconsider their decisions, reminding them that they are neither here nor there. She asserted that they cannot be bought for money.
Political analysts suggest that Mamata intends to use the Esplanade rally as a last resort to save the party’s organization. It remains to be seen whether the Kolkata Police will grant permission for the TMC to hold the event.
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