Split TMC marks Martyrs’ Day with dual rallies in Kolkata

The Trinamool Congress (TMC), grappling with an internal split after its recent loss of power, marked its annual ‘Martyrs’ Day’ this year in an unprecedented manner, with two parallel rallies being held in Kolkata by rival factions of the party.

Departing from its traditional mega gathering at Dharmatala, the party’s observance of July 21 has been divided between two camps. One faction, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, is holding its programme at Mayo Road near the Gandhi statue, while the other, led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is organising a separate rally on Cathedral Road in front of the Birla Planetarium.

The split has created confusion among party workers and supporters, many of whom appeared uncertain about which gathering to attend. Several cadres were seen moving between the two venues, with some leaving the Mayo Road meeting midway to join Mamata’s rally.

“There is only one Trinamool leader. Mamata Banerjee is Trinamool, and Trinamool is Mamata Banerjee,” said a supporter while heading towards the Planetarium venue after briefly attending the Mayo Road event.

At Mayo Road, supporters began assembling early in the day for the meeting organised by Ritabrata’s faction. However, a section of attendees admitted that they were unaware of the parallel arrangements. “It wasn’t clear who was holding a meeting where, so we just came here,” said one participant.

Meanwhile, the rally led by Mamata is being held in compliance with a Calcutta High Court directive, which permitted the ‘Kalighat-Trinamool’ faction to organise its programme at the designated location near the Planetarium. A large crowd has gathered at the venue, where senior leaders including Kunal Ghosh and Mahua Moitra have been present since morning.

Tensions escalated late on the eve of the event, with the Kalighat faction alleging that BJP supporters attacked the rally site, vandalising banners and assaulting party workers. Following these reports, Mamata, along with her nephew and party MP Abhishek Banerjee, rushed to the spot late on Monday night. They were accompanied by leaders such as Dola Sen and Kunal Ghosh, and remained at the venue overnight to oversee the situation.

Although Mamata returned home early in the morning, she is expected to address the gathering later in the day. Party workers and political observers alike are closely watching her speech, as it is likely to set the tone for the party’s future amid the ongoing internal discord.

With the TMC now visibly divided, this year’s July 21 observance has taken on added political significance, reflecting both the challenges facing the party and the battle for leadership within its ranks.

Also read: I will resign in 1 hour if TMC rebels return: Abhishek Banerjee