Mamata AITC planning ‘massive’ protest march in Kolkata against Centre, EC on Oct 13
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has announced a protest march in Kolkata on Tuesday against the Centre and the Election Commission, a day after holding a demonstration in New Delhi. The march is scheduled to proceed from Rajabazar to Park Circus.
It remains unclear whether Banerjee will participate in the rally and whether the party has obtained police permission for the event.
Scheduled to begin at 2 pm, the march has been billed by the party as a major demonstration against recent developments in the national capital, including the demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleged police action against protesters.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the party's student and youth wings had organised the march and that he would participate. However, he expressed uncertainty over Banerjee's presence, citing her engagements in Delhi.
Ghosh also said he was unaware whether police permission had been secured, adding that the party did not expect the authorities to approve the rally.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari took a swipe at the proposed march, remarking that the organisers had selected a "very good location". Although he did not elaborate, his comment appeared to refer to the sizeable minority population in the Rajabazar and Park Circus areas.
Adhikari also accused the opposition of joining hands with what he called "Dimagi Naxals" and anti-national forces to undermine the BJP-led government at the Centre. He further alleged that a "deep state" conspiracy was behind the protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The TMC faction led by Banerjee has cited several reasons for the rally, accusing the Centre of trying to silence democratic voices and demanding the resignation and arrest of Gyanesh Kumar, whom the party has labelled a "vote chor".
The party also said the demonstration would oppose the alleged detention of Banerjee by police in Delhi and what it described as the suppression of opposition leaders, particularly younger leaders.
Party workers began mobilising support for the march on Monday, contacting cadres across Kolkata. Banerjee has also urged members of the party's student, youth, trade union and women's wings to take part.
The proposed demonstration comes as Kolkata prepares for Durga Puja, with crowds increasingly gathering at pandals being inaugurated across the city. Adhikari is also scheduled to inaugurate several puja pandals on Tuesday.
The rally's timing and route could add to traffic management challenges, as Rajabazar, CIT Road and Park Circus are busy stretches expected to see heavy vehicular movement ahead of the festival. (with inputs from PTI)