Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Oct 13: The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) faction has planned a massive protest march in Kolkata on Tuesday against the Centre and the Election Commission, a day after staging a demonstration in New Delhi over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The march, organised by the party's student and youth wings, is scheduled to begin at 2 pm from Rajabazar and proceed towards Park Circus. However, it remains unclear whether West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee will participate in the rally, as she is currently engaged in political activities in Delhi. It is also unclear whether the party has obtained police permission for the march.
“I will join the protest march, although I have little idea whether Didi (Banerjee) will be able to make it, given her current engagements in Delhi,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.
Asked whether the party had secured police permission, Ghosh said he was unsure but presumed that the authorities would not grant approval.
The TMC has cited several reasons for organising the protest, including its demand for the removal and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, whom the party has accused of facilitating electoral fraud. The party also intends to protest Banerjee's detention during the demonstration in Delhi and what it describes as the suppression of democratic voices and opposition leaders.
Banerjee has appealed to members of the party's student, youth, trade union and women's wings to participate in the demonstration. Party workers began mobilising support across Kolkata on Monday in preparation for the rally.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari criticised the proposed march, saying the organisers had “chosen a very good location”. Although he did not elaborate, the remark appeared to refer to the significant minority population in the Rajabazar and Park Circus areas.
Adhikari also accused opposition parties of joining hands with what he described as “Dimagi Naxals” and anti-national forces to target the BJP-led government at the Centre. He alleged that a “deep state” conspiracy was behind the protests over the SIR of electoral rolls.
The proposed march comes as Kolkata prepares for Durga Puja, with crowds gathering at pandals across the city ahead of the festival. Adhikari is also scheduled to inaugurate several pandals on Tuesday.
The rally's proposed route through Rajabazar, CIT Road and Park Circus is expected to pose a traffic management challenge, with vehicular movement likely to remain heavy as festival-related activities intensify across the city.
The demonstration follows the TMC's protest in New Delhi on Monday, reflecting the party's continuing opposition to the electoral roll revision exercise and its demands for accountability from the Election Commission.