Kolkata, 21 July (H.S.): West Bengal witnessed an unprecedented political spectacle on Martyrs' Day as three separate rallies were held within a radius of barely 2.5 kilometres in central Kolkata. The events, organised by two rival factions of the Trinamool Congress and the state Congress, were preceded by allegations of stage vandalism, damage to banners and posters, and attempts to obstruct party workers from attending the programmes.

Following the split in the Trinamool Congress, one faction led by Mamata Banerjee organised its Martyrs' Day programme near Birla Planetarium, while the rival faction led by Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Bandyopadhyay held a parallel rally at Mayo Road near the Gandhi statue. The West Bengal Congress organised its own programme at the Shaheed Minar grounds.

Amid allegations that her programme was being sabotaged, Mamata Banerjee spent the entire night at the venue, remaining beside the stage to ensure that it was not damaged further.

Banerjee alleged that attempts were being made to disrupt her rally by preventing party workers and families of martyrs from reaching the venue. She claimed that the stage had been vandalised, posters and banners torn down, and microphone cables cut. Holding the BJP responsible, Banerjee warned that legal action, including contempt of court proceedings, would be initiated if the authorities failed to comply with the Calcutta High Court's directions. She also said she was prepared to become a petitioner in the case herself if necessary.

Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra also alleged on X that vehicles carrying party workers from different districts were being stopped and vandalised on their way to Kolkata.

The Congress, meanwhile, accused the BJP of attacking its workers travelling to the state capital. West Bengal Congress president Shubhankar Sarkar alleged that a bus carrying Congress supporters from Durgapur was vandalised at Muchipara on Monday night. Similar incidents were also reported from Potashpur in Purba Medinipur district, he claimed.

On Tuesday morning, several Trinamool workers were seen at the rally organised by the Ritabrata faction at Mayo Road. They said they had stopped there briefly while travelling to Mamata Banerjee's programme. Some also maintained that since both factions continue to use the same party symbol, they intended to attend both rallies.

With three major political gatherings taking place simultaneously, security was significantly tightened across central Kolkata, with a heavy deployment of police personnel to maintain law and order.

Notably, from the time Mamata Banerjee became Chief Minister in 2011 until her party lost power in 2026, the Trinamool Congress had traditionally organised its massive Martyrs' Day rally at Esplanade (Dharmatala), drawing thousands of supporters every year. However, after the BJP government led by Suvendu Adhikari assumed office, permission for the traditional venue was not granted, and Banerjee's faction was instead allotted an alternative location by the authorities.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh