TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh and party MP Dola Sen measure the venue at Dharmatala (Esplanade) as preparations begin for the party’s annual July 21 Martyrs’ Day rally, in Kolkata on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: ANI
An infighting in the Trinamool Congress has unfolded over this flagship Shahid Diwas rally as both the Mamata Banerjee-led faction and Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction applied for permission to organise the rally at Victoria House this year
Kolkata Police has lodged a first information report against Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh, Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen and senior leader Advocate Baishwanar Chatterjee for allegedly blocking traffic in central Kolkata during a site inspection for their Shahid Dibas rally on July 21.
“The case was registered at Hare Street Police Station. The fact of the case is that on June 28, 2026 in between 2:50 p.m. and 4 p.m. the accused persons, namely Kunal Ghosh (MLA), Dola Sen (MP RS), Advocate Baiswanar Chatterjee and others formed a gathering in front of Victoria House at Bentick Street causing hindrance in the way of vehicular traffic and daily commuters. In this regard the case under reference has been initiated,” Additional Commissioner of Police, Kunal Aggarwal, said.
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The FIR was lodged under Section 285 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). “The gathering was formed without any permission from the police. They arrived at the site with decorators and several other people to inspect and measure the area ahead of the rally and it caused major traffic interruption. We will question the leaders soon,” the police officer said.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had on Monday (June 29, 2026) said that Trinamool leaders taking measurements on the road without police permission cannot be allowed. Commenting on the split in the Trinamool Congress and its party rank and file deserting it, Mr. Adhikari dared the Trinamool Congress to hold an annual Martyrs’ Day rally at Brigade Parade Grounds as it did in 2011.
There has been claims by both the camps of Trinamool over organising Shahid Diwas rally as both the Mamata Banerjee-led faction and Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction of the party applied for a permission to organise the rally in front of Victoria House this year. The police are yet to grant a formal approval, said officials.
Published – June 30, 2026 12:05 pm IST